Member

The amendment proposed by the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Gloucester addresses the position of pregnant women and mothers in particular, as does the amendment proposed by my noble friend Lord Beith, which advocates respect for existing case law. That is because, as he explained, among other things, the Court of Appeal has already made it clear that pre-sentence reports should normally be ordered when a court is to sentence a pregnant or post-natal mother. It is entirely artificial for guidelines now to prohibit sentencing judges from being told that is appropriate.