“the commencement date” means the day on which section 269 comes into force;

“the early release provisions” means the provisions of section 28(5) to (8) of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (c. 43);

“existing prisoner” means a person serving one or more mandatory life sentences passed before the commencement date (whether or not he is also serving any other sentence);

“life sentence” means a sentence of imprisonment for life or custody for life passed in England and Wales or by a court-martial outside England and Wales;

“mandatory life sentence” means a life sentence passed in circumstances where the sentence was fixed by law.