HC Deb 06 December 1999 vol 340 c389W
Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people currently subject to life imprisonment for murder are awaiting the outcome of a review by him of his tariff. [101343]

Mr. Boateng

As at 30 November 1999, there were 94 people in custody in England and Wales convicted of murder who had submitted representations about the tariff set in their case and who were awaiting a decision by the Secretary of State.

Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department since 1983, in how many cases of people convicted of murder the tariff was set at less than 20 years; and what, in each case, was the reason for a tariff being set at less than 20 years. [101342]

Mr. Boateng

Tariffs of 20 years or more are reserved for the gravest types of murder including, for example, terrorist murders, murder by firearm in the course of robbery, the murder of police or prison officers and the sexual or sadistic murder of children. The great majority of murders do not fall into any of the gravest categories and the tariffs they attract are, therefore, normally less than 20 years. About 88 per cent. of all those convicted of murder and currently serving their sentence in custody in England and Wales have a tariff of less than 20 years.