§ Lord Hutchinson of Lullingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the number and proportion of members of the Parole Board who belong to ethnic minority groups.
106WAWhat is the number and proportion of members of local review committees who belong to ethnic minority groups.
What initiatives are being taken to increase ethnic minority membership of the Parole Board and local review committees.
The Minister of State, Home Office (The Earl of Caithness)Of 67 Parole Board members, five (7.5 per cent) belong to ethnic minority groups. There are 814 independent members and 550 board of visitor members of local review committees of whom 47 (5.7 per cent.) and 30 (5.4 per cent.) respectively belong to ethnic minority groups. Existing arrangements for appointing members to these bodies are designed to ensure that the ethnic minorities are well represented on them, but, in the case of the local review committees, the geographical location of some establishments inhibits recruitment.