§ 13. Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number and proportion of those granted parole who were released from prison within six weeks of completing the minimum period of their imprisonment.
§ Mr. CarlisleOut of 2,171 cases which have been analysed, the answer is 1,133, or 52.2 per cent.
§ Mr. HardyI thank the Minister for that reply and for the release on parole today of a constituent about whom I wrote to him. Will the Minister consider reducing the time which must elapse before parole is allowed, and so make a contribution to the problem of overcrowding in our prisons?
§ Mr. CarlisleAs the hon. Gentleman knows, anyone who has served either one-third of his sentence or 12 months is eligible for parole. The matter of extending parole is being considered in the Home Office, and we have recently set up two new parole panels in Manchester and Birmingham. I cannot say anything further at this stage.