§ 35. Mr. Bevanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an inquiry into the very early release from Her Majesty's prisons of criminals convicted of violent crime when but a fraction of their sentences have been served.
§ Mr. WhitelawNo. Early release on licence under the supervision of the probation and after-care service is a statutory power I may exercise only if recommended to do so by the independent Parole Board. My primary concern, as it is also of the Parole Board.
383Wis to secure the protection of the public which in some cases may be better served by supervised and assisted resettlement in the community than by simple release. Early release on licence is not granted unless there is good reason to believe that it will be safe to grant it.