§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is now his policy on replacing part-time members of the Parole Board with full-time paid officials; when this policy was announced; and what consultations he undertook in respect of changes in his policy.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI am currently considering proposals to appoint a small number of full-time members of the Parole Board, in addition to existing part-time members. Any such appointments will be made as members of the Parole Board and will not be officials of the civil service. We announced the possibility of such appointments to members of the Parole Board at their annual general meeting on 9 March. The chairman of the board was consulted on the subject both prior to the announcement and since that date, and I hope to meet him shortly in order to discuss the matter further.