HL Deb 03 February 1999 vol 596 c211WA
Lord Windlesham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the reasons for their decision to implement Section 4 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 with effect from December 1999. [HL758]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The Government have always said that implementation depended on the capacity of the Prison Service and available resources. The latest long-term projections for the prison population are lower than had previously been the case. We now believe that the Prison Service has the capacity to cope with the increase in the prison population which Section 4 will give rise to.