HC Deb 12 February 1981 vol 998 c379W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legislative or other action would be required (a) to alter the amount of remission to which prisoners are entitled and (b) to introduce a conditional release scheme of the kind which operates in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Mayhew

A change in the level of remission could be effected by ameending the Prison Rules 1964. The statutory instrument would be subject to negative resolution. The introduction of a conditional release scheme as operated in Northern Ireland would require primary legislation and major changes to the parole scheme would also be necessary. Both measures would involve the recalculation of most sentences.