Dr Julian Lewis:  According to the Home Secretary's statement, the Government will end the requirement that judges should automatically halve the minimum term when setting the earliest release date for those serving unlimited sentences. Am I right in thinking that the vast majority of sentences are not unlimited sentences, and does that mean that the majority of sentences, say for 18 years, 14 years, 12 years, will still be halved?

[Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. I think that the Home Secretary understands the point that the hon. Gentleman is making.

John Reid: I think that the hon. Gentleman will find that the vast majority of serious offences now are given indeterminate sentences – in other words, unlimited sentences.]