§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will amend the parole system so that time spent in prison on remand counts towards the six month qualifying period.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Glenarthur)No. As parole is selective, a minimum period of time is required after sentencing during which observation, reporting and selection may take place. If remand time counted towards the qualifying period, a prisoner might be eligible for parole immediately after sentencing.