§ 3.18 p.m.
§ LORD BROOKE OF CUMNORMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the successful experience of the Parole Board, they will introduce legislation permitting a prisoner to be released on licence, if so recommended by the Parole Board, after he has served one-third of his sentence or eight months, whichever is the longer.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD WINDLESHAM)My Lords, there are some practical difficulties about achieving an extension of the parole scheme in the precise way which the noble Lord has in mind, having regard to the time needed to prepare adequate reports and assessments. But Her Majesty's Government welcome the successful inauguration of the parole scheme; have certainly not ruled out some extension of it; and are keeping its scope under close review.
§ LORD BROOKE OF CUMNORMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer, and in view of the fact that we are going to debate the subject of prisons on Wednesday I will save your Lordships' time and reserve further questions for that occasion.
§ LORD MOLSONMy Lords, I should like to ask the Government this supplementary question. In view of the numerous cases where criminals convicted of violent crime have been released in time to repeat their violent crimes, will the Home Secretary attach full importance to recommendations by trial judges that a prisoner should not be released in less than a certain period of time?
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, the Home Secretary will certainly wish to take note of that comment. The parole system is a new one. It has made a very satisfactory start and has received widespread public acceptance. We hope that it can be extended in various ways; but the risks have to be calculated extremely carefully, and opinions from a wide range of people, including trial judges, have to be taken into account.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord how many prisoners convicted of crimes of violence who have been released on parole have repeated other crimes of violence?
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, not without notice.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, would the noble Lord be good enough to let us have the information?