Committee (10th Day)

Part of Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill – in the House of Lords at 10:15 pm on 15 February 2012.

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Photo of Baroness Linklater of Butterstone Baroness Linklater of Butterstone Liberal Democrat 10:15, 15 February 2012

My Lords, I listened with interest and not a great deal of surprise to what my noble friend said. We talked about fear and fashion, and I will reiterate that anybody who works with young people knows that the predominant cause is fear. We need to address why these things happen. It is not at all likely that having such a new sentence on the statute book will do anything to deter young people. As the noble and learned Lord, Lord Lloyd, said, what we do and say in this House will not percolate down, or mean very much, to a 16 or 17 year- old. However, taking account of the hour-I am about to catch my sleeper to Scotland-I will certainly not pursue the matter. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.

Amendment 186 withdrawn.

Amendment 187 not moved.

Debate on whether Clause 128 should stand part of the Bill.