Oral Answers to Questions

Eddie Hughes Excerpts

Thursday 16th January 2020 Commons Chamber

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

4. What progress he has made on the implementation of the extension of the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

[Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)]

9. What progress he has made on the implementation of the extension of the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Solicitor General]

My hon. Friend is quite right. It has always been recognised in our criminal justice system that punishment includes not only deterrence but rehabilitation. That is something we seek to do in our sentencing regime and in our criminal justice system generally. My hon. Friend is right to highlight that feature.

[Eddie Hughes]

I am glad to hear what the Solicitor General has to say, because the people of Willenhall and Bloxwich certainly do not want to see unduly lenient sentences for those convicted of rape, murder or terrorism. When there is a referral under the scheme, how often is the sentence increased?

[The Solicitor General]

The number of sentences considered by the Law Officers—the Attorney General and me—has trebled since 2010. There were approximately 1,000 referrals last year, of which 86 cases were referred to the Court of Appeal and 50 offenders had their sentences increased.