55.Where the Parole Board is satisfied (either at the first review before the punishment of the sentence expires or at a subsequent review) that it is no longer necessary to confine a life prisoner for the protection of the public, it must direct the Scottish Ministers to release him or her on life licence and must specify conditions to be included in the licence. Where the direction is given at the first review before the punishment part expires, the Scottish Ministers are obliged to give effect to that direction on the expiry of the punishment part. Subsection (3) provides that where the Parole Board has directed that a life prisoner be released, the Scottish Ministers must release the prisoner on a life licence.