Part 4Prisoners etc.

Release of prisoners

28Release on licence etc. under 1993 Act

(1)

The 1993 Act (which applies to prisoners sentenced on or after 1st October 1993 and to some prisoners sentenced before that date) is amended as follows.

(2)

In section 1(3) (which enables the Scottish Ministers to release on licence certain prisoners if recommended to do so by the Parole Board and, by virtue of section 20(3)(a), requires them to release certain other prisoners if there is such a recommendation), for the word “may” there is substituted—

“(a)

shall, except in the case mentioned in paragraph (b) below; or

(b)

may, in the case of a prisoner who is liable to removal from the United Kingdom (within the meaning of section 9 of this Act),”.

(3)

In section 12 (which enables the Scottish Ministers to insert, vary or cancel conditions in licences and, in certain cases, to do so in accordance with the recommendations of the Parole Board), for subsections (3) and (4) there is substituted—

“(3)

The Scottish Ministers may under subsection (1) above include on release and from time to time insert, vary or cancel a condition in a licence granted under this Part of this Act; but—

(a)

in the case of a long-term or life prisoner released by the Scottish Ministers under subsection (1) of section 3 of this Act without consulting the Parole Board, no licence condition shall be inserted, varied or cancelled subsequent to the release except in accordance with the recommendations of the Parole Board; and

(b)

in the case of any other long-term or life prisoner, no licence condition shall be included on release, or subsequently inserted, varied or cancelled except in accordance with such recommendations.”.

(4)

Section 20(3) (which provides power to modify the effect of section 1(3) in relation to certain classes of case) is repealed.