§ Miss Maynardasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on how many occasions Patrick Joseph Conlon was considered for parole and refused it; and what were the dates upon which the refusals were notified to him;
(2) why no consideration was given to the release of Patrick Joseph Conlon on licence in view of the chronic lung condition from which he suffered and the real possibility that he would die from it.
§ Mr. WhitelawMr. Conlon was considered for, and refused, parole twice; he was notified of these refusals on 23 November 1978 and 28 November 1979. Medical reports on prisoners are automatically included in case papers submitted to the parole board. What weight to attach to medical factors in relation to other factors is for the board to decide but it is not considered appropriate that parole should be determined on health grounds alone.
§ Miss Maynardasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it was necessary to have an armed police guard on Patrick Joseph Conlon whilst he was in Hammersmith hospital.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe decision to provide an armed police guard was an operational matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.