§ Earl Peelasked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements they propose to introduce for the interviewing of life sentence prisoners for release on licence following the abolition of Local Review Committees in September 1994.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)My right honourable friend has asked the Parole Board to undertake the interviewing of life sentence prisoners currently performed by Local Review Committees. This will include mandatory life sentence prisoners and discretionary life sentence prisoners whose tariffs have not yet expired. My right honourable friend is most grateful to the board for agreeing to take on this extra work.
My right honourable friend would also like to express his sincere thanks to all present and former members of Local Review Committees for their outstanding contribution to the parole scheme over the last 25 years. They have given most generously of their time and we are very grateful to them for their hard work, dedication and the great care they have taken over their recommendations in this very sensitive area.