§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that differences in sentencing in Scotland by individual sheriffs are eliminated in accordance with the Scottish Office research paper, "Patterns of Custodial Sentencing in the Sheriff Court". [1193]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Government invited views on a number of possible changes intended to improve consistency, clarity and predictability to sentencing in the consultation paper, "Sentencing and Appeals" which was published in January 1994. Our conclusions were given in the White Paper, "Firm and Fair" (Cm 2600) which announced our intention to promote a specific statutory power to allow the Appeal Court to issue judgments establishing general sentencing guidelines. The relevant provision is included as section 34 to the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1995.