Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Thursday, 22 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 September 2004. It was answered by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Thursday, 16 September 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the functions are of the Sentencing Guidelines Council's research staff.

Answer: Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the functions are of the Sentencing Guidelines Council's research staff. [187247] Paul Goggins: The function of the Sentencing Guidelines Council's research staff is to support the Council's work in framing guidelines that take account of, amongst other things: the need to promote consistency in sentencing; the sentences imposed by courts in England and Wales for offences to which the guidelines relate; and the cost-effectiveness of different sentences in preventing re-offending.

Secondary information