§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 March 1999,Official Report, column 237, what is the minimum possible tariff to be served by a person serving a life sentence following a conviction for murder. [79084]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe tariff is set by the Secretary of State following consideration of advice from the judiciary on the punitive period necessary to satisfy the requirements of retribution and general deferrence. Tariff length varies according to the circumstances of the particular offence and there is no minimum period. However, tariffs of less than eight years for murder would be set only in exceptional circumstances.