asked Her Majesty's Government:

What guidance, if any, has been given to the judiciary in Northern Ireland over the last five years concerning sentencing policy. [HL3352]

The sentencing framework, that is the statutory range of sentences available to a judge in connection with particular offences, is a matter for the legislature. The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal delivers guideline judgments on sentencing practice and procedure in Northern Ireland. These sentencing guideline cases encourage consistency in sentencing throughout the courts of Northern Ireland and support sentencers in their decision making. In addition, the Judicial Studies Board of Northern Ireland publishes significant decided cases on its website (www.jsbni.com).