Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the reasons were for his Department's decision not to seek a judicial review of the Parole Board’s decision to release John Worboys.

As the Secretary of State said in his statement of 19 January, after careful consideration of expert legal advice, he decided it would not be appropriate for him, as Justice Secretary, to proceed with a judicial review against the Parole Board decision to release John Worboys.

I fully support the right of victims and others to take their own legal advice and to challenge the Parole Board’s decision. Legal aid generally remains available for advice, assistance and representation in relation to a judicial review. This would include decisions of the Parole Board.