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Coroners and Justice Bill

Clauses 124 and 125 are of course simply consequential on Amendment 191A. The noble Lord, Lord Bach, has made out a case which is basically fair enough on the assumption, which I believe is entirely false, that everything is going well. If things were going well, it would be understandable, although still unsatisfactory in many respects. However, the question of significant risk would be justified only if significant risk could be identified with any real prospect of success, which it simply cannot. In the past, the risk of offences being committed by a criminal in the future was always dealt by the possibility of imposing anything up to the maximum sentence for that crime. The provision for lengthy determinate sentences has always existed, and has worked reasonably well because past criminal record is an important, central feature in determining the length of the sentence. The Minister’s statistics do not satisfy me that we have got anywhere near a satisfactory answer to all of the problems that have arisen. In the circumstances, I will withdraw the amendment, but I am very grateful for the support that I have received from the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, the noble Baroness, Lady Stern, and my noble friend Lord Thomas of Gresford. The present situation is a disgrace to the British penal system. Although I withdraw the amendment now, I may seek to bring it back on Report. I beg leave to withdraw Amendment 191A. Amendment 191A withdrawn. Schedule 14: Extension of disqualification for driving Amendment A191AZZA not moved. Schedule 14 agreed. Clauses 124 and 125 agreed.