Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the process for handling applications and associated decision-making for early release on compassionate grounds is completed in a (a) timely and (b) effective manner.

The Secretary of State may release a serving prisoner at any point in their sentence if they are satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the prisoner’s release on compassionate grounds. The new Early Release on Compassionate Grounds Policy Framework was published in May 2022 and sets out the criteria and process for making an application for early release on compassionate grounds.

The policy framework sets out the information and reports required and provides guidance for prison staff on the appropriate timing for an application to be made. The guidance emphasises the importance of prisons having in place efficient processes to identify qualifying cases and avoiding unnecessary delays.

The policy is published online and communications issued to prisons to ensure staff are aware of the framework.