Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Adam Afriyie and Dominic Raab

Tuesday 28th March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Adam Afriyie (Windsor) (Con)]

16. What recent progress he has made on introducing ministerial oversight of parole board decisions to release high-risk offenders back into the community before the end of their sentence.

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Dominic Raab)]

We will shortly be bringing forward legislation to implement key measures in the root-and-branch review to ensure that public protection is the sole criterion and focus for parole decision making.

--- Later in debate ---

[Adam Afriyie (Windsor) (Con)]

Thank you for your generosity in allowing me to ask this question, Mr Speaker. My constituent Joanna Brown, a wife, mother of two children and daughter of loving parents, was brutally murdered in my constituency back in 2010. Her husband was convicted of the murder and was sentenced to 24 years. Sadly, it seems that he will be let out on licence in November. May I urge the Justice Secretary to ask the parole board to question whether such offenders should come out of prison?

[Dominic Raab]

My hon. Friend raises a terrible and tragic case. He knows that I recently met Joanna’s mother, Diana Parkes, and Joanna’s closest friend Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, who are co-founders of the Joanna Simpson Foundation. They have shown inspirational courage through their grief. I assured them, and I am happy to assure the House, that I will give Mr Brown’s case my closest personal attention. There will be maximum rigour in assessing risk to determine whether to use the new power given to me by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. I am happy to arrange for my hon. Friend to meet the relevant Minister if that is useful.