§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Satpal Ram has been given a place on the offending behaviour course. [108310]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 3 February 2000]: Mr. Ram is currently held at Full Sutton prison which does not provide a specific offending behaviour course. However, it does provide a number of other courses all directed towards dealing with offending behaviour. Following an assessment by probation staff and psychologists, Mr. Ram has been recommended for the reasoning and rehabilitation programme which is available at the prison.
§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Satpal Ram will be eligible for parole. [108311]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 3 February 2000]: As with any mandatory life sentence prisoner, Satpal Ram will be released from prison on life licence only if, following a review of his case by the Parole Board, the Board recommend his release and Ministers, after consulting the judiciary, agree. Satpal Ram's latest Parole Board review began in December 1999. The review will take account of reports prepared by prison and probation staff familiar with Mr. Ram's case, an interview between Mr. Ram and a Parole Board member (who will not be a member of the Panel who ultimately considers Mr. Ram's case) and any representations which Mr. Ram wishes to make for consideration by the Board. A Panel of the Board will then consider his case and make their recommendation. This all takes time, but the outcome of Mr. Ram's latest review should be known later this year.