(1)In this Chapter—
“court”, except in sections 9, 17 and 19 above, includes a court-martial and a Standing Civilian Court;
“prescribed” means prescribed by prison rules;
“prison rules” means rules made under section 47 of the [1952 c. 52.] Prison Act 1952;
“prisoner” has the meaning given by section 8(2) above;
“sentence of imprisonment” does not include a committal—
in default of payment of any sum of money;
for want of sufficient distress to satisfy any sum of money; or
for failure to do or abstain from doing anything required to be done or left undone;
and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;
“sexual offence” has the same meaning as in Part I of the 1991 Act.
(2)Subject to subsections (3) and (4) below, for the purposes of any reference in this Chapter, however expressed, to the term of imprisonment to which a person has been or could be sentenced, consecutive terms and terms which are wholly or partly concurrent shall be treated as a single term.
(3)Subsection (4) below applies where—
(a)an offender sentenced to two or more concurrent or consecutive terms of imprisonment is released from prison; and
(b)a direction was given under section 20(3) or 21(3) above in respect of one or more of those terms.
(4)The offender’s release supervision period shall be equal to the aggregate of the following, namely—
(a)the period which would be applicable if he had been sentenced only to the term or terms in respect of which such a direction was given; and
(b)the period which would be applicable if he had not been sentenced to the following, namely—
(i)the term or terms mentioned in paragraph (a) above; and
(ii)so much of any other term as was concurrent with, or with any part of, the term or any of the terms so mentioned.
(5)Any order, rules or prison rules made under or by virtue of this Chapter may make such incidental, supplemental and consequential provisions as may appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient.