§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his definition of a soft option; and, based on his definition, what percentage of community sentences are based on this option. [17503]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerA community sentence is a soft option if it does not provide sufficient punishment for the offence committed. The 1995 national standards published on 9 March should ensure that no community sentences provide soft options.