HC Deb 23 June 1977 vol 933 cc500-1W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people convicted of murder are currently released on parole;

(2)how many people convicted of armed robbery are currently released on parole;

(3)how many people convicted of sexual offences are currently released on parole;

(4)how many people convicted of manslaughter are currently released on parole.

Mr. John

Data are not available about the number of those currently on licence for specific offences, but, in 1976, releases on licence for persons convicted of the offences below were:

Murder* … … 61
Robbery† … … 559
Sexual offences … … 396
Manslaughter … … 110
* Persons convicted of murder and, as the law requires, sentenced to life imprisonment are not released on parole, as such, but on a life licence.
† Figures are not recorded for armed robbery.

Mr. Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people, during the last 10 years, convicted of murder, subsequently released on parole, committed further offences during their period of parole.

Mr. John

All persons convicted of murder are by law sentenced to life imprisonment. They are not released on parole, as such, but on a licence that remains in force for the remainder of the licensee's life. The records of life licensees who have committed further offences do not distinguish between those convicted of murder and those convicted or other offences, but about three-quarters of all life licensees are in the former category. During the period 1st January 1967 to 31st March 1976, 123 life licensees in England and Wales were convicted of further offences, the great majority of which were minor offences such as petty theft, minor motoring offences and drunkenness.