Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 3 October 2019 to Question 292174 on Re-offenders: Homicide, how many lifers on licence have been subsequently returned to prison on (a) fixed term recall and (b) standard recall.

Public protection is our priority. Offenders on licence are subject to strict licence conditions and supervision. They can also be recalled potentially to serve the rest of their sentence in prison if they breach the terms of their release.

The legislation allowing Fixed Term Recalls (Criminal Justice Act 2003) does not apply to offenders on a life sentence; consequently, offenders on a life licence may receive only a standard recall.

Published data recording the number of offenders on a life licence returned (recalled) to prison each year is available from 2010 and is set out in the table below: