§ 29. Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to amend sentencing policy. [29877]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyIn answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, West (Stephen Hesford) on 21 November 2001,Official Report column 355W, I said that I anticipated publishing a White Paper in spring 2002. That is still my intention. Earlier today I announced the publication of an overview of the responses to the consultation on the proposals arising from the review of the sentencing framework (the Halliday Report) a copy of which is being provided to each Member of Parliament.
§ Ms MunnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he took to ensure that the views of young people were considered in his consultation on sentencing reform and the criminal courts. [29868]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyYoung people participated in the on-line consultation on the Fairer Sentencing website. They were able to contribute to the reform of criminal courts by visiting the review website. I am also attending events at various university law schools with the aim of giving young people an opportunity to express their views on this issue.
Mr. Anthony D. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish a summary of the responses to the public consultation on the review of the sentencing framework. [33486]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe summary of responses has been published today, 4 February 2002. Copies of the summary are being sent to each Member of Parliament and will be placed in the Library. Further copies will be available in the Vote Office and in the Printed Paper Office.
§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 January 2002,Official Report, column 843W, on prison sentences, if he will break down the numbers of prison sentences into the categories of offences for which custody of five years or over was handed down in each of those years. [31330]
§ Beverley HughesThe table contains the information requested.
663W
Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody of five years or over in England and Wales, 1998 to 2000 Offence 1998 1999 2000 Indecent assault on a male 44 35 20 Rape of a female 494 474 442 Rape of a male 30 33 25 Indecent assault on a female 90 95 96 Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 7 10 7 Incest 11 9 9 Procuration — 1 — Burglary in a dwelling 141 166 134 Aggravated burglary in a dwelling 58 65 59 Burglary in a building other than a dwelling 20 16 14 Aggravated burglary in a building not a dwelling 4 4 8 Robbery 646 693 749 Blackmail 13 16 8 Kidnapping, etc. 51 59 61 Theft from the person of another 10 4 4 Theft by an employee 2 1 1 Theft or unauthorised taking from mail — 1 — Theft from vehicle — 1 — Theft from shops 3 — 1 Theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicle 4 — 1 Other theft or unauthorised taking 2 4 4 Fraud by company director etc. 4 — 1 False accounting 1 — 1 Other fraud 35 23 31 Handling stolen goods 18 10 7 Arson 73 59 51 Criminal damage endangering life 4 12 5 Other criminal damage 2 — 1 Threat etc., to commit criminal damage 3 — — Other forgery etc. 3 — 6 Violent disorder 1 1 2 Perjury — — 1 Gross indecency with children 2 5 11 Assist entry of illegal immigrant 5 3 9 Perverting the course of justice 6 l 6 Absconding from lawful custody — 2 1 Firearms Act offence 13 11 8 Revenue law offence — 1 — Other (excluding motoring offences) 12 17 12 Unlawful importation of drugs Class A 400 499 549 Class B 88 79 57 Class C 3 — — Class unspecified 53 26 13 Unlawful exportation of drugs Class A 2 4 3 Class B 4 1 — Class unspecified 3 — 1 Production, supply and possession with intent to supply a controlled drug Class A 433 549 550 Class B 56 56 51 Class C — — 1 Class unspecified 7 28 8 Possession of a controlled drug Class A 6 4 6 Class B 1 1 — Other drug offences 11 10 9 Total 3,823 4,009 4,033