§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about how often prisoners serving a life sentence go before a review board and the procedures such a board adopts.
§ Mr. ScottThe cases of all persons serving life sentences, and sentences of detention during the Secretary of State's pleasure, are reviewed periodically by the Northern Ireland Office in the light of all the relevant circumstances, including the facts of the crime and the prison reports.
§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners who applied for compassionate parole in each of the years from 1970 to 1983 were serving a life sentence.
§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a breakdown of the number of Republican, Loyalist and other prisoners who (a) applied for compassionate parole, (b) were refused such parole and (c) when granted such parole, absconded, between 1970 and 1983.
§ Mr. ScottPrisoners are not classified in the manner requested. Information over this period on the number of prisoners applying for compassionate home leave and the numbers refused such leave could be obtained only at disaproportionate cost, but I would refer to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 9 February 1984. A total of 14 prisoners absconded whilst on compassionate home leave between 1970 and 1983.