HL Deb 06 December 1995 vol 567 cc83-4WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Home Secretary intends to appeal against the decisions of Mr. Justice Dyson, Mr. Justice Sedley and Mr. Justice Turner finding abuses of power and unfairness in ex parte Norney, ex parte Sun Myung Moon, and ex parte Pierson: and, if not, why not.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)

My right honourable friend's appeal inex parte Pierson has been heard and was successful. The Court of Appeal endorsed his decision in the case.

In ex parte Moon, Mr. Justice Sedley declined to find the decision to exclude Reverend Moon irrational, but held that an opportunity to make representation had not been given. The finding is of limited application in cases where exclusion is ordered on grounds that a person's presence here is not conducive to the public good. My right honourable friend has therefore decided not to appeal.

In ex parte Norney, Mr. Justice Dyson held an aspect of the practice of referring the cases of discretionary life sentence prisoners to the Parole Board to be unlawful. This practice has now been changed and my right honourable friend has accordingly decided not to appeal.