asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 31 March (WA 140) concerning remission for prisoners in Northern Ireland, what were the circumstances in which 6 per cent of prisoners were not released after 50 per cent remission in the years 2003 to 2007. [HL2995]

The 6 per cent figure comprises releases of life sentence prisoners, who are not eligible for 50 per cent remission, and other releases from prisons in Northern Ireland where 50 per cent remission was not applicable. The latter include prisoners released on appeal, fine defaulters who paid their fines in prison and a small number of miscellaneous cases.