Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they are giving to releasing prisoners who have spent 40 or more years in custody.

Any prisoner who has not been released from a sentence imposed 40 or more years ago will be serving a sentence of life imprisonment. As such, their release is a matter for the independent Parole Board who must be satisfied that their detention is no longer necessary for the protection of the public. There is also a power for the Secretary of State executively to release a prisoner if exceptional circumstances exist which justify release on compassionate grounds. If such a prisoner were to make an application for compassionate release it would be considered on its individual merits.