§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to delegating authority to release prisoners imprisoned for life for murder; and if he will make a statement. [7950]
§ Mr. MacleanSection 35 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 provides that the Secretary of State may release a mandatory life sentence prisoner if recommended to do so by the parole board, and after consulting the Lord Chief Justice and, if available, the trial judge. The Home Secretary normally takes such decisions personally. The Government have no plans to change these arrangements.