Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government, regarding provisions in the Victims and Prisoners Bill for a ministerial veto and subsequent appeal to the Upper Tribunal for 'top tier' parole decisions, what assessment they have made of the importance of clarity and finality of parole decision making for (1) the victims of crime, (2) prisoners, and (3) the safe and efficient management of prisons; and of the likely impact of these new stages of the parole process.

The Victims and Prisoners Bill has not yet reached Report stage in the House of Commons, meaning it is not in the final form in which it will be introduced to the House of Lords. I look forward to debating this Bill with the Noble Lord and others shortly once it has reached the House of Lords in the form approved by the House of Commons.