§ Lord Harris of Greenwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many members now serve on local review committees in Her Majesty's prisons; how many of these have attended Home Office training courses; and how long it will be before those now being appointed, consequent to the decision to reduce the parole threshold, have the opportunity to attend such courses.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Elton)There are about 1,350 members of local review committees, of whom about 800 are representatives of Boards of Visitors and the Probation Service, and governors or their representatives. About 550 are independent lay members, who are unpaid volunteers, and are given an opportunity of attending a Home Office training course shortly after being appointed. We estimate that about three-quarters of those independent members recruited before 1st April 1983 have already attended a training course. Arrangements have been made to ensure that all new independent members recruited as a result of the reduction in the parole threshold will be given the opportunity to attend a training course within one year of appointment.