Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether ministerial approval is required for decisions to grant release on temporary licence for (a) all prisoners and (b) those that committed the most serious and violent crimes.

Ministers do not approve individual decisions to release prisoners on temporary licence (ROTL). Decisions are taken by prison governors and directors, or their delegates, on behalf of the Secretary of State and in line with national guidance issued by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). This is in line with the 1994 and 2006 ROTL guidance.

We commissioned a review of ROTL policy and practice last year. We have introduced a new approach whereby high risk and serious offenders will be subjected to an enhanced regime of restricted ROTL under which temporary release decisions may be made only by the governor or deputy, and the board recommending the decision must consider a psychologist's review report.