§ Mr. SalterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responses he has received to the consultation document "Improving Parole Decision Making"; and how he intends to proceed with the proposal to delegate authority in parole cases involving prisoners with determinate sentences of between four and 15 years. [60440]
§ Mr. StrawThe consultation period ended on 4 November 1998. We have received 38 responses to the paper: 33 supported the proposals in the paper in their entirety; five others offered differing degrees of support. Of these
three respondents had no objections to the proposals but suggested that ministerial involvement in all parole and lifer cases should cease.one respondent favoured further delegation to the Parole Board but suggested a cut-off point of 10 years rather than 15 years.one respondent suggested that the number of previous parole reviews should determine which cases should he decided by the Parole Board.In the light of the positive responses to the paper. I have today laid before Parliament a draft Order giving effect to the proposals.