Amendment No. 543 will make a small amendment to the definition of a pre-sentence report in the clause. It will offer greater flexibility for future developments in the way in which pre-sentence reports may be presented. The senior judiciary suggested the change during the consultation process.

In certain circumstances, sentencers would be prepared to receive a report orally, and the probation service advises that the development of the offender assessment system may influence the way in which reports are presented in future.

Amendment No. 544 is consequential on that change and simply makes clear that the provisions of clause 143, which concern the disclosure of pre-sentence reports, would not apply to any pre-sentence report given orally in open court.

Amendment agreed to.