asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ask the Court of Appeal to issue guidelines on the sentencing of women; and, if not, why not. [HL1252]

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has no power to ask the Court of Appeal to frame guidelines. Powers in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 empower him to direct the Sentencing Advisory Panel to propose to the Court of Appeal that it issue guidelines for specific offences or categories of offence. This power does not, however, extend to making directions that the panel should propose guidelines for particular categories of offender.