§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances people who are held in prison without bail and awaiting trial are allowed temporarily to leave the prison on compassionate grounds; whose responsibility it is to grant such leave; and if he will make a statement. [74997]
§ Mr. George HowarthUnder Rule 6 paragraph 8 of the Prison Rules 1964 (as amended), prisoners committed or remanded in custody for trial are not eligible to be considered by prison governors for temporary release.
Prisoners are remanded to prison by the court under the specific provisions of the Bail Act 1976. It is, therefore, for the court to consider any fresh information that may lead to temporary release on compassionate grounds when a new application for bail is submitted.