HC Deb 15 February 1996 vol 271 cc697-8W
21. Mr. Fabricant

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new measures he plans to introduce to combat violet crime; and if he will make a statement. [13873]

Mr. Maclean

Severe penalties are already available for those convicted of serious offences. Life imprisonment is the maximum penalty for the most serious offences, and long terms of imprisonment can be imposed for other violent offences. Maximum penalties for violent offences are kept under constant review and we have not hesitated to increase them when necessary. The Government fully support the private member's Bill being promoted by my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Lady Olga Maitland), which proposes to tighten the law and increase the penalties for knife-related crime. The Government also propose that the courts should be required to impose an automatic life sentence on those convicted for the second time of a serious violent or sex offence. Full details of our proposals on sentencing will be set out in a White Paper in the spring.

Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to double the penalties upon those convicted of violent crime within a given radius of schools; and if he will make a statement. [14016]

Mr. Maclean

I believe that offences should be punished for what they are, not where they are committed.

Severe penalties are already available for those convicted of serious offences. Life imprisonment is the maximum penalty for the most serious offences, and long terms of imprisonment can be imposed for other violent offences. Maximum penalties for violent offences are kept under constant review and we have not hesitated to increase them when necessary. The Government fully support the private Member's Bill being promoted by my hon. Freind the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Lady Olga Maitland) which proposes to tighten the law and increase the penalties for knife-related crime. The Government also propose that the courts should be required to impose an automatic life sentence on those convicted for the second time of a serious violent or sex offence. Full details of our proposals on sentencing will be set out in a White Paper in the spring.