§ Mr. SternTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to reduce custodial sentencing.
§ Mr. John PattenOur proposals for statutory framework for sentencing were set out in the White Paper, "Crime Justice and Protecting the Public" (Cm 965), which was published on 6 February. These include restrictions on the use of custody for all but the most serious offenders, together with a wider and more flexible range of strengthened community penalties and reduced maximum penalties for theft and burglary, except burglaries of people's homes.