23. To ask the Solicitor-General what steps he is taking to change the way sentences are explained in court to make them more understandable to the public. (114144)

The Home Secretary, Lord Chancellor and Attorney-General, jointly issued a consultation paper, “Making Sentencing Clearer” in November last year, which addressed this very issue as part of our wider debate on sentencing. The consultation period has only just concluded (9 January 2007); the views of all respondents will be carefully considered before firm proposals are drawn up.

24. To ask the Solicitor-General if he will seek a legislative opportunity to extend the period allowed after sentencing for victims and their families to consider requesting the Attorney-General to seek a review of sentences. (114145)

No, the Government have no plans to extend the 28-day limit for the Law Officers to refer a sentence to the Court of Appeal for review if of the opinion that the sentence was unduly lenient.