§ Ms McCaffertyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Government will422W alarms were present, operated, but did not raise the alarm (ie although the alarm sounded the fire brigade was not called).
put in place to respond to the findings of the Sentencing Advisory Panel on fairness and consistency in sentencing for environmental offences. [119209]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe role of the Sentencing Advisory Panel is to provide views to the Court of Appeal on particular offences or categories of offence to assist the Court in framing or revising guidelines. The Court of Appeal has discretion as to how it chooses to use those views. It would not be appropriate for the Government to interfere in this.
§ Ms McCaffertyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government will take to implement the Sentencing Advisory Panel's recommendations that a higher level of compensation than £5,000 for environmental offences should be allowed in magistrates courts. [119191]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeOn 21 January 2000, the Chairman of the Sentencing Advisory Panel wrote to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary suggesting an increase in the level of compensation available in magistrates courts for environmental offences. The Government are currently considering how to respond.