§ Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they will issue sentencing guidelines in respect of women; and, if so, when. [HL4231]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonThe Government has no power to issue sentencing guidelines.
Powers in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 empower the Home Secretary to direct the Sentencing Advisory Panel to propose to the Court of Appeal that it issue guidelines for specific offences or categories of offence. This power does not extend to making directions that the Panel should propose guidelines for particular categories of offender.