HC Deb 20 January 1967 vol 739 cc930-1

Queen's Recommendation having been signified,—

The Minister of State, Home Office (Miss Alice Bacon)

I beg to move, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to amend the law relating to the proceedings of criminal courts, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of the expenses of any body established by or under that Act for the purpose of making decisions or recommendations with respect to the release on licence and recall of persons sentenced to imprisonment or other detention and the conditions of any such licence. 4.15 p.m.

The Government have put down this second and supplementary Resolution for the Criminal Justice Bill in response to the point raised by the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Sir J. Hobson), when the first Money Resolution was considered, on 13th December. The right hon. and learned Gentleman then asked whether that first Resolution would be sufficient to permit discussion in the Standing Committee of Amendments to set up a parole board to deal with the release on licence of prisoners, for which the Bill provides. Since then he has put down Amendments to this effect.

On considering the text of the Amendments, it is clear that a fresh Resolution is necessary, and we are, therefore, moving this Resolution today. I can confirm that this Resolution is wide enough to cover the right hon. and learned Gentleman's Amendments, but I must make it clear that the moving of this Resolution should not be taken as implying any change of view on the part of the Government about the appropriate procedure for licensing prisoners. As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary said on Second Reading of the Bill, the Government will be glad to listen to the views of hon. Members on this issue. The Resolution is moved solely to enable the Amendments to be discussed in Standing Committee.

4.17 p.m.

Sir John Hobson (Warwick and Leamington)

I had thought that we were to have the pleasure of being told by the Government that they had wholly accepted the proposals we had put forward and were willingly assisting us by putting down a Money Resolution. As we understand, they have not made up their mind and we hope that we will be able to persuade them.

I thank the hon. Lady for keeping a promise made by the Government when the Money Resolution was first moved.

Question put and agreed to.