Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the proportionality of sentences for people committing theft or misappropriating funds from bank accounts.

Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts. When deciding what sentence to impose, within the maximum available for the offence, the courts take into account the circumstances of the offence and any aggravating and mitigating factors. The courts are also required to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines, developed by the independent Sentencing Council. The guidelines assist judges and magistrates in deciding the appropriate sentence for a criminal offence, and help to ensure that sentences are consistent and proportionate.