Clause 1 - Sentencing guidelines about  pre-sentence reports
Amendment proposed: 3, page 1, line 7, at end insert—
“(2A) After subsection (7) insert—
‘(7A) In the case of guidelines within subsection (4) about pre-sentence reports, the Council must, after making any amendments of the guidelines which it considers appropriate, obtain the consent of the Secretary of State before issuing sentencing guidelines as definitive guidelines.
(7B) In any case to which subsection (7A) applies, the Secretary of State may—
(a) consent to the issuing of guideline as definitive guidelines,
(b) refuse consent for the issuing of guidelines as definitive guidelines, or
(c) direct the Council to issue the guidelines in an amended form as definitive guidelines.
(7C) Where the Secretary of State has consented to the issuing of guidelines under subsection (7B)(a) or has directed the Council to issue guidelines in an amended form under subsection (7B)(c), the Council must issue the guidelines as definitive guidelines in the appropriate form’.” —(Dr Mullan.)