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I wish to raise the case of the prisoner, Ronnie Biggs. A fortnight ago the Secretary of State for Justice made a decision on his case. His son, Michael Biggs, invited me to visit him in prison, HMP Norwich. I applied to the governor to visit. I wanted to see...
I wish to raise the case of the prisoner, Ronnie Biggs. A fortnight ago the Secretary of State for Justice made a decision on his case. His son, Michael Biggs, invited me to visit him in prison, HMP Norwich. I applied to the governor to visit. I wanted to see...
Member
Harry Cohen
(Labour)
Type
Proceeding contributions
Subjects
Parole; Prisoners' release; Biggs, Ronald
Date
21 July 2009
Reference
496 c806-8
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
My Lords, while not for a moment condoning the crime that Mr Biggs originally committed, would my noble friend confirm that Mr Biggs is old, very ill, most unlikely to do any harm to anybody and no danger to society and that the public would not protest at his early release, particularly if under supervision? What is the purpose of keeping people like him in our overcrowded jails?
My Lords, while not for a moment condoning the crime that Mr Biggs originally committed, would my noble friend confirm that Mr Biggs is old, very ill, most unlikely to do any harm to anybody and no danger to society and that the public would not protest at his early release, particularly if under supervision? What is the purpose of keeping people like him in our overcrowded jails?
Asked by
Lord Dubs
(Labour)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 July 2009
My Lords, of course I can confirm that Mr Biggs is elderly and not in good health. However, I should remind my noble friend that the Parole Board said: ""What has quite plainly reduced enormously is his capacity to reoffend; the medical evidence indicates overwhelmingly that his own ability to commit further acts of violence has reduced to an extremely low level. The Panel is not persuaded that risk arising from association with criminal peers and consequent indirect involvement in offending is necessarily equally low"."
Forgive the pun, my Lords. More seriously, the significance the Parole Board made of that risk is a matter of judgment. It decided to make its recommendation. My right honourable friend the Justice Secretary considered the significance of the last part of the passage I read out to be of considerable importance when coming to his decision.
Subjects
Parole; Biggs, Ronald
Date
9 July 2009
Reference
712 c764-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the Justice Secretary considered all the material that was before the Parole Board panel. This included details of Mr Biggs’s index offence; his previous offending history; his escape from Her Majesty’s Prison Wandsworth in 1965; the many years which he subsequently spent evading extradition and recapture; his progress in custody after he returned to the United Kingdom in 2001; the reports prepared by staff in NOMS; the written representations of his legal representative; and the Parole Board’s recommendation. After careful consideration, the Justice Secretary determined that the risk of harm presented by Mr Biggs was such that it might not be safely managed in the community.
My Lords, the Justice Secretary considered all the material that was before the Parole Board panel. This included details of Mr Biggs’s index offence; his previous offending history; his escape from Her Majesty’s Prison Wandsworth in 1965; the many years which he subsequently spent evading extradition and recapture; his progress in custody after he returned to the United Kingdom in 2001; the reports prepared by staff in NOMS; the written representations of his legal representative; and the Parole Board’s recommendation. After careful consideration, the Justice Secretary determined that the risk of harm presented by Mr Biggs was such that it might not be safely managed in the community.
Answered by
Lord Bach
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Subjects
Parole; Biggs, Ronald
Date
9 July 2009
Reference
712 c764
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, of course I can confirm that Mr Biggs is elderly and not in good health. However, I should remind my noble friend that the Parole Board said: ""What has quite plainly reduced enormously is his capacity to reoffend; the medical evidence indicates overwhelmingly that his own ability to commit further acts of violence has reduced to an extremely low level. The Panel is not persuaded that risk arising from association with criminal peers and consequent indirect involvement in offending is necessarily equally low"."
Forgive the pun, my Lords. More seriously, the significance the Parole Board made of that risk is a matter of judgment. It decided to make its recommendation. My right honourable friend the Justice Secretary considered the significance of the last part of the passage I read out to be of considerable importance when coming to his decision.
My Lords, of course I can confirm that Mr Biggs is elderly and not in good health. However, I should remind my noble friend that the Parole Board said: ""What has quite plainly reduced enormously is his capacity to reoffend; the medical evidence indicates overwhelmingly that his own ability to commit further acts of violence has reduced to an extremely low level. The Panel is not persuaded that risk arising from association with criminal peers and consequent indirect involvement in offending is necessarily equally low"."
Forgive the pun, my Lords. More seriously, the significance the Parole Board made of that risk is a matter of judgment. It decided to make its recommendation. My right honourable friend the Justice Secretary considered the significance of the last part of the passage I read out to be of considerable importance when coming to his decision.
Answered by
Lord Bach
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Dubs
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, while not for a moment condoning the crime that Mr Biggs originally committed, would my noble friend confirm that Mr Biggs is old, very ill, most unlikely to do any harm to anybody and no danger to society and that the public would not protest at his early release, particularly if under supervision? What is the purpose of keeping people like him in our overcrowded jails?
Subjects
Parole; Biggs, Ronald
Date
9 July 2009
Reference
712 c764-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, how many prisoners are over the age of 75, and what consideration is given to the overcrowding in our prisons when reviewing their cases for parole?
My Lords, how many prisoners are over the age of 75, and what consideration is given to the overcrowding in our prisons when reviewing their cases for parole?
Asked by
Lord Elton
(Conservative)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 July 2009
My Lords, I do not know the number of prisoners over 75, but I will find out and write to the noble Lord. Of course it is important that the right people are in prison at the right time; prisoners can be released if their health is in such a state and they can apply to the Justice Secretary for release on those grounds. We are talking about a decision which my right honourable friend took in a quasi-judicial role, having considered all the evidence before him.
Subjects
Parole; Biggs, Ronald
Date
9 July 2009
Reference
712 c766
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the Minister has very properly listed a number of aggravating features of Biggs’s case, but is it not also perfectly correct to say that he did, after all, return voluntarily to the jurisdiction?
My Lords, the Minister has very properly listed a number of aggravating features of Biggs’s case, but is it not also perfectly correct to say that he did, after all, return voluntarily to the jurisdiction?
Asked by
Lord Elystan-Morgan
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 July 2009
My Lords, it is right to say that he returned voluntarily—some 36 years after he committed the offence of escaping from Her Majesty’s Prison Wandsworth. Why he returned voluntarily has been a matter of some comment in the media, and I will not repeat it. The noble Lord is strictly right that Mr Biggs returned voluntarily, but if he had not escaped he would have finished his sentence a long time ago.
Subjects
Parole; Biggs, Ronald
Date
9 July 2009
Reference
712 c765-6
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I am sure that the Minister will recall that the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Stafford said that the Parole Board should have the power to direct release if continued detention was not necessary. The Government carried the effect of that decision in the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Is it not extremely unfortunate that the Justice Secretary should now bring back into the political arena a decision that should have been made by the Parole Board, and would have been made by the Parole Board, to release Mr Biggs, regardless of what he has done? Is it not simply a populist move that we should deplore?
My Lords, I am sure that the Minister will recall that the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Stafford said that the Parole Board should have the power to direct release if continued detention was not necessary. The Government carried the effect of that decision in the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Is it not extremely unfortunate that the Justice Secretary should now bring back into the political arena a decision that should have been made by the Parole Board, and would have been made by the Parole Board, to release Mr Biggs, regardless of what he has done? Is it not simply a populist move that we should deplore?
Asked by
Lord Thomas of Gresford
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 July 2009
My Lords, it is not a populist move. I reject that utterly. As I think the noble Lord will know, the law as far as this is concerned is in rather a particular position at the moment. Under existing legislation, it is for the Secretary of State for Justice to determine whether an offender sentenced to 15 years or more and whose release is subject to the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 might be released early on parole. For all other types of prisoners—for example, those with indeterminate sentences—it is a matter for the Parole Board. I am glad to be able to say that the noble Lord will able to support the Government when we come to Clause 129 of the Coroners and Justice Bill, which will change the law in this regard.
Subjects
Parole; Biggs, Ronald
Date
9 July 2009
Reference
712 c765
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I do not know the number of prisoners over 75, but I will find out and write to the noble Lord. Of course it is important that the right people are in prison at the right time; prisoners can be released if their health is in such a state and they can apply to the Justice Secretary for release on those grounds. We are talking about a decision which my right honourable friend took in a quasi-judicial role, having considered all the evidence before him.
My Lords, I do not know the number of prisoners over 75, but I will find out and write to the noble Lord. Of course it is important that the right people are in prison at the right time; prisoners can be released if their health is in such a state and they can apply to the Justice Secretary for release on those grounds. We are talking about a decision which my right honourable friend took in a quasi-judicial role, having considered all the evidence before him.
Answered by
Lord Bach
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Elton
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, how many prisoners are over the age of 75, and what consideration is given to the overcrowding in our prisons when reviewing their cases for parole?
Subjects
Parole; Biggs, Ronald
Date
9 July 2009
Reference
712 c766
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, it is right to say that he returned voluntarily—some 36 years after he committed the offence of escaping from Her Majesty’s Prison Wandsworth. Why he returned voluntarily has been a matter of some comment in the media, and I will not repeat it. The noble Lord is strictly right that Mr Biggs returned voluntarily, but if he had not escaped he would have finished his sentence a long time ago.
My Lords, it is right to say that he returned voluntarily—some 36 years after he committed the offence of escaping from Her Majesty’s Prison Wandsworth. Why he returned voluntarily has been a matter of some comment in the media, and I will not repeat it. The noble Lord is strictly right that Mr Biggs returned voluntarily, but if he had not escaped he would have finished his sentence a long time ago.
Answered by
Lord Bach
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Elystan-Morgan
(Crossbench)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, the Minister has very properly listed a number of aggravating features of Biggs’s case, but is it not also perfectly correct to say that he did, after all, return voluntarily to the jurisdiction?
Subjects
Parole; Biggs, Ronald
Date
9 July 2009
Reference
712 c765-6
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, it is not a populist move. I reject that utterly. As I think the noble Lord will know, the law as far as this is concerned is in rather a particular position at the moment. Under existing legislation, it is for the Secretary of State for Justice to determine whether an offender sentenced to 15 years or more and whose release is subject to the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 might be released early on parole. For all other types of prisoners—for example, those with indeterminate sentences—it is a matter for the Parole Board. I am glad to be able to say that the noble Lord will able to support the Government when we come to Clause 129 of the Coroners and Justice Bill, which will change the law in this regard.
My Lords, it is not a populist move. I reject that utterly. As I think the noble Lord will know, the law as far as this is concerned is in rather a particular position at the moment. Under existing legislation, it is for the Secretary of State for Justice to determine whether an offender sentenced to 15 years or more and whose release is subject to the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 might be released early on parole. For all other types of prisoners—for example, those with indeterminate sentences—it is a matter for the Parole Board. I am glad to be able to say that the noble Lord will able to support the Government when we come to Clause 129 of the Coroners and Justice Bill, which will change the law in this regard.
Answered by
Lord Bach
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Thomas of Gresford
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, I am sure that the Minister will recall that the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Stafford said that the Parole Board should have the power to direct release if continued detention was not necessary. The Government carried the effect of that decision in the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Is it not extremely unfortunate that the Justice Secretary should now bring back into the political arena a decision that should have been made by the Parole Board, and would have been made by the Parole Board, to release Mr Biggs, regardless of what he has done? Is it not simply a populist move that we should deplore?
Subjects
Parole; Biggs, Ronald
Date
9 July 2009
Reference
712 c765
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty's Government what considerations they took into account in refusing parole to Ronald Biggs.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what considerations they took into account in refusing parole to Ronald Biggs.
Asked by
Lord Dubs
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Bach
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Procedure
Topical questions (HL)
For answer on
9 July 2009
Answered on
9 July 2009
My Lords, the Justice Secretary considered all the material that was before the Parole Board panel. This included details of Mr Biggs’s index offence; his previous offending history; his escape from Her Majesty’s Prison Wandsworth in 1965; the many years which he subsequently spent evading extradition and recapture; his progress in custody after he returned to the United Kingdom in 2001; the reports prepared by staff in NOMS; the written representations of his legal representative; and the Parole Board’s recommendation. After careful consideration, the Justice Secretary determined that the risk of harm presented by Mr Biggs was such that it might not be safely managed in the community.
Subjects
Parole; Biggs, Ronald
Date
9 July 2009
Reference
712 c764
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Will the Leader of the House find time next week for those of us who disagree with the Justice Secretary's decision to overrule the Parole Board on the Ronnie Biggs case to discuss that, given that we allowed hundreds of terrorists and murderers to go free in Northern Ireland, and...
Will the Leader of the House find time next week for those of us who disagree with the Justice Secretary's decision to overrule the Parole Board on the Ronnie Biggs case to discuss that, given that we allowed hundreds of terrorists and murderers to go free in Northern Ireland, and...
Member
Baroness Hoey
(Labour)
Type
Business questions
Subjects
Parole; Parole Board; Biggs, Ronald
Date
2 July 2009
Reference
495 c486
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The Justice Secretary was acting in compliance with the law as it relates to people who were sentenced at the time of the Ronald Biggs case. My hon. Friend is right that the system has changed for future cases, but it has not changed for cases of that age. The...
The Justice Secretary was acting in compliance with the law as it relates to people who were sentenced at the time of the Ronald Biggs case. My hon. Friend is right that the system has changed for future cases, but it has not changed for cases of that age. The...
Member
Baroness Harman
(Labour)
Type
Proceeding contributions
Subjects
Parole; Parole Board; Biggs, Ronald
Date
2 July 2009
Reference
495 c486
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason Ronald Biggs was permitted to marry whilst serving a prison term. - Marriage Act 1949.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason Ronald Biggs was permitted to marry whilst serving a prison term. - Marriage Act 1949.
Asked by
Julian Lewis
(Conservative)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
23 July 2002
For answer on
15 October 2002
Answered on
15 October 2002
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason Ronald Biggs was permitted to marry whilst
serving a prison term. [73424]
Mr. Hilary Benn: Prisoners have a right to marry under the Marriage Act 1949, as amended. In Mr. Biggs' case, the status of the
spouse as a foreign national did not affect this right; nor has the marriage altered this status.
Subjects
Marriage; Prisoners; Biggs, Ronald
Date
15 October 2002
Reference
390 c752W;390 c753-4W; 73424
House
House of Commons
How many police officers were on duty at RAF Northolt on 7 May for the arrival of Mr Ronnie Biggs; what was the cost of this operation; and whether they consider this represented an appropriate use of police resources. [HL 2119] - Inc figures.
How many police officers were on duty at RAF Northolt on 7 May for the arrival of Mr Ronnie Biggs; what was the cost of this operation; and whether they consider this represented an appropriate use of police resources. [HL 2119] - Inc figures.
Asked by
Lord Palmer
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
10 May 2001
Answered on
10 May 2001
Subjects
Arrests; Costs; Police; RAF Northolt; Biggs, Ronald
Date
10 May 2001
Reference
HL 2119; 624 c401WA
House
House of Lords
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will grant an amnesty to Mr Ronnie Biggs on grounds of the state of his health to enable him to return to the UK; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will grant an amnesty to Mr Ronnie Biggs on grounds of the state of his health to enable him to return to the UK; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Harry Cohen
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Boateng
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
17 January 2000
For answer on
25 January 2000
Answered on
25 January 2000
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will grant an amnesty to Mr. Ronnie Biggs on grounds of the
state of his health to enable him to return to the UK; and if he will make a statement. [106073]
Mr. Boateng: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to grant any form of "amnesty" to Mr. Ronnie Biggs.
Subjects
Entry clearances; Biggs, Ronald
Date
25 January 2000
Reference
106073; 343 c220W;343 c221W
House
House of Commons
When the extradition treaty with Brazil is to be concluded; and what steps he is taking to secure the extradition of Mr Ronnie Biggs.
When the extradition treaty with Brazil is to be concluded; and what steps he is taking to secure the extradition of Mr Ronnie Biggs.
Asked by
Gordon Prentice
(Labour)
Answered by
Alun Michael
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
1 July 1997
Answered on
1 July 1997
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the extradition treaty with Brazil is to be
concluded; and what steps he is taking to secure the extradition of Mr. Ronnie Biggs. [5605]
Mr. Michael: The United Kingdom/Brazil extradition treaty was signed on 18 July 1995. Both the United Kingdom and Brazil have now
completed the necessary domestic parliamentary procedures for ratification. Preparations are in hand for the drawing up of the
instrument of ratification for signature by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. This will then be forwarded to Brazil where
Her Majesty's ambassador will exchange instruments with a representative of the Brazilian Government. The treaty will come into
force on the date of the exchange of instruments of ratification. Only then could any request for extradition be made. In line with
normal practice, I would not disclose the existence of any request until proceedings had been instituted in the requested state.
Subjects
Extradition; Treaties; Brazil; Biggs, Ronald
Date
1 July 1997
Reference
5605; 297 c77W
House
House of Commons