HL Deb 09 March 2005 vol 670 cc81-2WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will issue guidance to those responsible for imposing sentences on the ways in which non-custodial sentences can be combined with fines, compensation orders, restorative justice conditions and agreements for drug and alcohol treatment. [HL1579]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The Government have provided a new range of sentences for the courts including conditional cautions, a new community order and a new suspended sentence order, which all provide opportunities for the offender to do reparative activities and consent to drug and alcohol treatment in the community. These sentences can be used together with fines and compensation orders so that the court has greater flexibility to tailor the sentence to the offender and the offence. All sentencers are receiving training on these new measures, which are contained in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and will be available for offences committed on or after 4 April 2005.

It is for the Sentencing Guidelines Council to issue guidelines to all courts on sentencing.