Debates between Lord Brougham and Vaux and Lord Ramsbotham during the 2017-2019 Parliament

Mon 28th Jan 2019
Offensive Weapons Bill
Grand Committee

Committee: 1st sitting (Hansard): House of Lords

Offensive Weapons Bill

Debate between Lord Brougham and Vaux and Lord Ramsbotham
Lord Brougham and Vaux Portrait The Deputy Chairman of Committees
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Can you be very quick?

Lord Ramsbotham Portrait Lord Ramsbotham
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My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have taken part in the debate on this amendment. I assure the Minister that this is not a matter of principle against short sentences. I have seen how ineffective they are. I know how ineffective they are, and I have been saying so for more than 20 years. It is not a question of principle; it is knowledge that they are ineffective. I fail to see why the Justice Secretary, who is against mandatory minimum sentences, is on one side saying one thing and then the Home Secretary is imposing yet more mandatory sentences on the other. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment, but I am sure we will return to it at a later stage.