IPP Prisoners: Recall System
Debate between Lord Lemos and Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick(3 weeks, 2 days ago)
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Lord Lemos (Lab)
That is precisely the reason why, as we think through how we will end this sentence, we are thinking about what support we need to put in place, both before and after their release. I refer to the work my noble friend Lord Timpson did on the IPP action plan, which sought to ensure that IPP prisoners were in the right sort of prison for them and were getting support while they were still in prison. However, I assure the noble Baroness that the question of support before and after release is top of our list of things to worry about.
Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick (CB)
My Lords, there is a problem with part of the Minister’s Answer—the constant reference, including by the Justice Secretary, to “before the end of this Parliament”. Nobody knows when this Parliament is going to end; it could be 2029 or 2027, in which case, if this issue is not resolved, it will drag on again for a further 30 years. Is it not possible for the Government to bring forward rapid legislation this autumn that deals with the residue of those who have already been released but are recallable at any instant? A simple one-paragraph piece of legislation, similar to what was done for the Post Office workers, could clear the long-term matter up.
Lord Lemos (Lab)
I can reassure the noble Lord that we do not intend to let this drift, but he will understand that I cannot give specific Dispatch Box commitments on dates. Frankly, that is a pessimistic view of how this will go. We are going to do this in this Parliament and are very actively working on it.