Prisoner Transfer Agreements

Lord Bishop of Liverpool Excerpts

Tuesday 15th February 2011 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[The Lord Bishop of Liverpool]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review prisoner transfer agreements.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally)]

My Lords, we have a small number of bilateral arrangements which we keep under review, including on prisoner consent. The UK is a signatory to multilateral agreements for prisoner transfer which would require the agreement of all parties to a review.

[The Lord Bishop of Liverpool]

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his Answer. Will he look into the case of Steven Willcox who, on transfer from Thailand, is having to serve a 29-year fixed sentence for possession of a small amount of drugs, when a number of other transferred prisoners on much more serious charges are released much sooner? Will he also look into the disparity of treatment between those transferred prisoners on fixed-term sentences that cannot be changed and those on whole-life sentences that can be reassessed, and even reduced, by British courts?

[Lord McNally]

My Lords, officials of the Ministry of Justice have recently concluded a review of the Anglo-Thai agreement and submissions will be considered shortly by Ministers. The issues raised by the right reverend Prelate will be considered by Ministers when we receive that review.