Transparency of the Parole Board and Victim Support

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Tuesday 9th January 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

With respect, I can perhaps answer both questions by reference to the same issue. As far as I am aware, no pressure is being brought to bear on the Parole Board with respect to inappropriate release of IPP prisoners. The statutory test is perfectly clear, and the Parole Board is an independent body applying that statutory test, which should continue to be the position. It would not be appropriate that we should depart from the situation in which there is an independent Parole Board making these decisions objectively, to somehow bring it back into the fold of political decision-making where you may find pressure from the electorate, the media and elsewhere that impacts directly on someone’s right of liberty.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

From the Minister’s extensive experience north of the border, is there anything that can be learned from the procedures in Scotland?

[Lord Keen of Elie]

I am obliged to the noble Lord, but I have to confess that I have virtually no experience of criminal law north of the border.