§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the Attorney-General's decision not to refer the case of Paul Skuse to the Court of Appeal. [95934]
§ The Solicitor-General[holding answer 11 February 2003]: The Attorney-General decided, after very careful consideration of this sensitive and unusual case, not to pursue his application to the Court of Appeal as an unduly lenient sentence.
The Attorney wrote to the hon. Member to set out his reason on 23 January 2003 as he believes the sentence passed— two and a half years imprisonment plus an extended licence period of two and a half years—was 1119W not unduly lenient in this very unusual case, and taking all matters into account was of the view that the Court of Appeal would not increase the sentence.