§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in view of the opinion of Home Office Ministers that the behaviour and attitudes of life sentence prisoners should be assessed by different staff from time to time, they will obtain advice on the case of Mr. Roger John Payne from officials other than Mr. D. Atkinson and Mr. Howard Jones.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Elton)An important feature of our policy for the management of the life sentence population is systematic assessment by different staff and in different situations during the course of their sentence. This was the reason for the proposals, of which the noble Lord is aware, that Mr. Payne should be transferred to a different prison. Advice is available to us from a number of experienced officials and professional advisers in the Home Office, including those named, in whom we have complete confidence; and from governors, medical staff, probation officers and others in the field. In addition, the progress of life sentence prisoners is closely monitored by the Parole Board.