HC Deb 07 December 1992 vol 215 cc479-80W
Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on how many occasions the new discretionary life sentence tribunals have recommended that prisoners be moved to a lower security category; and on how many occasions that recommendation has been acted upon;

(2) how many discretionary life sentence prisoners have appeared before the new lifer tribunals; and how many of them have been recommended for immediate release.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Thirty-three discretionary life prisoners have so far appeared before a discretionary lifer panel of the parole hoard. Four prisoners have been released on life licence following a direction from the board. Of the remaining prisoners, the board has recommended that one should be released for deportation, 15 should be moved to conditions of lower security and that six should be considered for specialist treatment. These recommendations are being carefully considered.