asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the average and longest delays in the Parole Board's consideration of the appropriateness of the decision made by a probation officer to recall a person under licence to prison. [HL4524]

Every case of a recalled offender is put before the Parole Board for review of the decision to recall, an offender's appeal against recall and consideration for re-release. Between April and June 2007, the average time taken by the Parole Board to undertake reviews and issue decisions was 10.5 working days from the date of referral to the board of the recall dossier from the post-release section in the Ministry of Justice. The maximum time recorded was 32 working days. This compares with the Parole Board's target of six working days. Maintaining improvements made towards the end of the April to June period, the board is now meeting its six-day target.