To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many oral hearings are waiting to be considered by the Parole Board; what the (a) average waiting time is and (b) longest waiting time is; and what the corresponding figures were in May 2006. (138711)

2,138 oral hearings are currently waiting to be considered by the Parole Board. Figures for the average waiting time and longest waiting time are not recorded centrally. The time taken to arrange hearings depends on the circumstances of the case.

To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what assessment her Department has made of the reasons for delays in Parole Board hearings; and what steps she is taking to reduce such delays. (138713)

Parole Board hearings to review whether offenders should continue to be held in custody require information to be collected from a variety of sources within the criminal justice system. There are also large numbers of hearings to be conducted any one time. Sometimes, therefore, delays regrettably occur. I am assured by the Parole Board, however, that every effort is continuing to be made to ensure that all hearings are conducted as expeditiously as possible.