§ Lord Hughes of Woodsideasked Her Majesty's Government:
What responses they have received to the consultation document Improving Parole Decision Making and how they intend to proceed with determinate sentences of between four and 15 years. [HL3912]
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§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)The consultation period ended on 4 November 1998. We received 38 responses to the paper:
- Thirty-three supported the proposals in the paper in their entirety; five others offered differing degrees of support. Of these:
- three respondents had no objections to the proposals but suggested that ministerial involvement in all parole and lifer cases should cease;
- one respondent favoured further delegation to the Parole Board but suggested a cut-off point of 10 years rather than 15 years;
- one respondent suggested that the number of previous parole reviews should determine which case should be decided by the Parole Board.
In the light of the positive responses to the paper, we have today laid before Parliament a draft order giving effect to the proposals.