To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received of the outcome of the recent cases (a) R (F) v Secretary of State for Justice and (b) R (Thompson) v Secretary for the Home Department before Lord Justice Latham, Mr Justice Underhill and Mr Justice Flaux; and if he will establish a means to review a requirement for indefinite registration on the Sex Offenders Register. (283956)

The cases of R (on the application of F and Thompson) v. the Secretary of State for the Home Department were heard in the High Court on 19 December. The High Court held that the sex offender notification requirements are incompatible with article 8 (right to family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights in so far as offenders who are subject to these requirements (commonly referred to as being on the sex offenders' register) for life cannot apply for a review of whether they should remain on the register. The Home Office has appealed this decision. The case will be heard by the Court of Appeal on 9 July 2009. Until we know the outcome of the appeal, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further but clearly we will give careful consideration to the Court of Appeal's judgment.