§ Lord McCluskeyasked Her Majesty's Government:
(1) on what date and by what authority Section 1 of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 [Release of short-term, long-term and life prisoners] was brought into force; (2) how many prisoners fell to be released on or about the first day of the operation of that section, being prisoners who 207WA would not have been released then but for the coming into force of that section; (3)(i) how many short-term prisoners have since been released by virtue of the provisions of the section, after serving one-half of their sentences, (ii) how many long-term prisoners have been released after serving two-thirds of their sentences, (iii) how many long-term prisoners who served less than two-thirds of their sentences have been released by the Secretary of State in exercise of his statutory powers under Section 1(3).
The Earl of LindsaySection 1 of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 came into effect on 1 October 1993 by virtue of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 Commencement, Transitional Provisions and Savings Order 1993.
The transitional arrangements for early release provided for in the 1993 Act resulted in the release of approximately 600 short-term prisoners on 1 October 1993.
Information on liberations has only recently been recorded electronically by establishments. The total number of short-term prisoners released at half-sentence term since 1 October 1993 could, therefore, only be compiled at disproportionate cost, as it would involve a large scale manual exercise. There have been no long-term prisoners released under the provisions of the Act since 1 October 1993 having served two-thirds of their sentence. I shall write to the noble and learned Lord to provide him with information on the number of long-term prisoners released since 1 October 1993 who have served less than two-thirds of their sentence as soon as the information can be extracted.
§ Lord McCluskeyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Secretary of State for Scotland was correctly reported in the press on 13 October 1995 as speaking of "the scandal of the present situation where criminals walk out of prison half-way through a sentence"; and, if so, to explain how that "situation" came about and who was responsible for it.
The Earl of LindsayMy right honourable friend made the comment in the context of his announcement on 12 October 1995 about law and order in Scotland, which included his plans for changes to the early release provisions for prisoners that are contained in the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993.
The legislation was introduced by the Government following its consideration of the report on parole by the review committee chaired by the Honourable Lord Kincraig.