§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in 1982, 1983 and so far in 1984, the prerogative of mercy has been used to release prisoners who were ill; and, in each case, what was their sex, the length of sentence uncompleted, and the nature of their illness.
§ Mr. MellorIn 1982 the royal prerogative of mercy was used to effect the early release of three men who were suffering from terminal cancer. The length of their uncompleted sentences was two weeks, four months and 15 months. In 1983 eight men were so released. Five were suffering from terminal cancer, of whom one had 38 days, two had three months, one had six months and one had 15 months to serve of their sentences; two men who had suffered severe strokes which left them paralysed had approximately 2½ years to serve of their sentences; and one man who had had a colectomy had five months to serve. So far in 1984 one man suffering from terminal cancer has been released with two months of his sentence to serve.