asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their policy on the revision of maximum sentences.

In reviewing particular areas of the criminal law our aim is to ensure that the courts have adequate powers to deal with the full range of cases likely to come before them, and especially with serious crimes of violence. The selection of an appropriate penalty within the maximum is a matter for the discretion of the court dealing with a particular case, guided by the general principles laid down by the Court of Appeal.