Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rory Stewart and Emma Little Pengelly

Tuesday 6th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Rory Stewart]

To get to the nub of the hon. Gentleman’s question, there is a very serious issue here, which is that it is absolutely true that there are many more women in prison than we would like. The Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for Bracknell (Dr Lee), is working very hard to reduce that population for exactly the reasons that the hon. Gentleman has raised.

[Emma Little Pengelly (Belfast South) (DUP)]

While I welcome the fact that victims can ask for a review in relation to unduly lenient sentences, there is an absolute 28-day limit on that. A criminal case can be very traumatising for victims. Will the Minister consider perhaps introducing a discretion in relation to that 28-day absolute limit?

[Rory Stewart]

That is a very interesting idea. Perhaps the hon. Lady and I can sit down to discuss that interesting idea in more detail.