§ 7. Mr. Litterickasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at what point in their sentences prisoners serving life imprisonment are deemed to have served half their term of imprisonment.
§ Mr. ConcannonA sentence of life imprisonment is an indeterminate sentence; one half of the term of imprisonment is therefore also indeterminate.
§ Mr. Russell KerrAbsolutely impeccable logic.
§ Mr. LitterickI am most grateful to the Minister for setting me that insoluble 856 conundrum. Does he agree that the indeterminacy of the sentence and, therefore, by definition, of the half sentence, leaves open the question when a prisoner serving a life sentence would, or should, or can, be released? Will the Minister deal with this matter at greater length? Can he tell the House whether or not the half-sentence principle is being applied to people convicted in Northern Ireland and subsequently transferred to mainland prisons?
§ Mr. ConcannonThe cases of life-sentenced prisoners are reviewed periodically in consultation with the trial judge and the Lord Chief Justice. Since 1968 five life-sentenced prisoners have been released—two after seven years, two after eight years and one after 16 years. The half sentence, which my right hon. Friend announced on 16th February 1976, applies only to people in gaol in Northern Ireland. If they are transferred to Great Britain I assume that they come under the parôle system of Great Britain.
§ Mr. Michael McNair-WilsonCan the Minister say what the average length of a life sentence in Northern Ireland is?
§ Mr. ConcannonObviously I cannot say what the average length of a life sentence is, but what I have just said is that since 1968 only five life sentence prisoners have been released. We now have 132 prisoners serving life sentences and 28 young persons detained at the Secretary of State's pleasure. This is another of those conundrums referred to my my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Litterick).