To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to increase the maximum sentencing powers of magistrates.

The Government is continuing to examine the case for increasing magistrates’ custodial sentencing powers and in the meantime will retain on the statute book the existing provisions that enable an increase. We have already announced our intention, in the Offender Rehabilitation Bill to ensure all offenders are subject to supervision on release from custody including offenders serving less than 12 month sentences. These proposals include a new role and powers for magistrates to deal with offenders who breach the conditions of their supervision.