§ 20. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the policy of granting remission of sentences.
§ Mr. StanleyIn accordance with rule 26 of the Prison Rules (Northern Ireland) 1982, all prisoners serving fixed-term sentences of more than five days are awarded268W remission of 50 per cent. of their sentences. Periods of remission can be lost for offences against prison discipline, up to a maximum of 180 days for each offence. Those serving sentences of more than one year who are released with remission may, if convicted of a further imprisonable offence during the period until their sentence would (but for remission) have expired, be obliged by a court to serve the remainder of that period either concurrently or consecutively with their further sentence. This power is available only in Northern Ireland and not in the rest of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland does not, however have any parole system.