HC Deb 25 January 1991 vol 184 cc348-9W
Mr. Bermingham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he anticipates that the parole changes proposed in the Criminal Justice Bill will be implemented; and whether they will be retrospective.

Mrs. Rumbold

The new parole arrangements will be introduced as early as practicable in 1992. The main elements of the new scheme will apply only to those inmates who are sentenced after implementation date. Those sentenced previously will retain their old entitlements and will not be subject to any additional liabilities.

Mr. Bermingham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any representations from the chairman of the Parole Board about the effects of the proposed changes to the parole system which are contained in the Criminal Justice Bill.

Mrs. Rumbold

The chairman of the Parole Board submitted representations which were subsequently published in the Parole Board's annual report for 1989. A joint Home Office-Parole Board conference was held last July when the board offered further comments on a number of issues concerning the new arrangements.