HL Deb 20 June 1990 vol 520 cc1039-40WA
Lord Hutchinson of Lullington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many recommendations for minimum periods of detention for offenders convicted of murder have been made in open court since 1965, and how many prisoners have been released at an earlier date than that recommended.

Viscount Ullswater

Since the power was introduced in 1965, 286 recommendations have been made by courts in England and Wales.

To date, nine life sentence prisoners in England and Wales have been released on life licence at an earlier date than that recommended by the trial judge (including two who were terminally ill and released on humanitarian grounds). In all the cases in accordance with the provisions of Section 61 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967, the prisoners were released on the recommendation of the Parole Board and after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice and, when available, the trial judge.