Oral Answers to Questions

Heidi Allen Excerpts

Tuesday 26th April 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Raab]

Our reforms are precisely aimed at weeding out spurious, frivolous or trivial claims, and ensuring that we preserve access to justice for important and meritorious claims. At the same time we must ensure that people who pay their insurance premiums year in, year out, are not penalised by those who are taking the system for a ride.

[Heidi Allen (South Cambridgeshire) (Con)]

Question 6, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Lady was quite close, but we are on Question 5. She is ahead of herself, and not for the first time I am sure.

[Heidi Allen (South Cambridgeshire) (Con)]

5. What progress he has made on reviewing sentencing for causing death by dangerous driving.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Dominic Raab)]

The Government are committed to ensuring that we have robust and consistent punishment for those who cause people to be killed or seriously injured on our roads, and we intend to consult on further proposals this year.

[Heidi Allen]

I was unnecessarily keen, as always, Mr Speaker. I asked that question on behalf of one of my constituents, 21-year-old Alex Jeffery, who was killed by a dangerous driver. The sentence given was only four years and three months, and we all know that it will probably end up being less than that. Will there be a time when sentences for causing death by dangerous driving are the same as those for murder? A car can be a weapon in the wrong hands.

[Mr Raab]

I am very aware of the tragic case of my hon. Friend’s constituent, and our deepest sympathies go to his family. Since 2010 the custody rate for causing death by dangerous driving has risen from 52% to 61%, and the average prison sentence has risen by around six months to just under four years. We will look again at that area, and my hon. Friend is right to say that there should be commensurable consistency with sentencing for homicide offences.