Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Parole Board Decisions: Serious Offenders

Tuesday 8 July 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Danny Kruger asked the Secretary of State about declining to refer Parole Board decisions for manslaughter cases to the High Court, citing the example of Robert Brown.
  • Kevin McKenna raised the case of Jon Venables, one of the killers of James Bulger, coming before the Parole Board again.
  • The Secretary of State offered to meet Kevin McKenna to discuss the need for victims' families to be heard in the justice system.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Danny Kruger Reform East Wiltshire
Justice & Courts
Context

The case of Robert Brown, who killed the best friend of Danny Kruger's constituent Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, prompted this question. The Secretary of State is declining to take power to refer Parole Board decisions on unduly lenient sentences for violent killers like Brown.

Question

The Secretary of State is declining to take the power to refer to the High Court on unduly lenient Parole Board decisions in cases of manslaughter, like that of Robert Brown, who killed the best friend of my constituent Hetti Barkworth-Nanton. Will the Minister meet me to discuss this decision and explore how we can ensure that the Secretary of State has all the powers necessary to ensure that violent killers like Brown are not released early?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir Nicholas Dakin)

That was a horrific case. My thoughts remain with Joanna’s family and friends, specifically Diana Parkes and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, who I met last year, and who the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypridd (Alex Davies-Jones), met this week. The previous Parliament carefully scrutinised the referral power and the offences that should be in scope. I am very happy to meet the hon. Gentleman on this matter.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for a meeting was acknowledged, but no commitment was made regarding granting additional powers or addressing the unduly lenient Parole Board decisions directly.

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Q2 Kevin McKenna Lab Sittingbourne and Sheppey
Justice & Courts
Context

The case of Jon Venables, one of the killers of James Bulger, is coming to the Parole Board again. Kevin McKenna's constituent Sue, supported by the James Bulger foundation, lost her son who could have been saved with proper medical aid.

Question

With the case of one of the killers of James Bulger, Jon Venables, coming to the Parole Board again, the need for the voices of victims’ families to be heard in the justice system is coming right to the fore. My constituent Sue, who is in the Gallery today, is being supported by the James Bulger foundation. Her son died needlessly; he was not supported by the people with him, who could have offered him aid and got him medical help. Will the Minister meet me and Sue to hear the tragic details of this case and discuss the options for changing the law to ensure that victims’ families are properly represented in the justice system?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir Nicholas Dakin)

My hon. Friend draws attention to another horrific case. I think the best way of proceeding is to take up his offer of a meeting.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for a meeting was acknowledged, but no commitment was made regarding legal changes or measures to better represent victims' families in the justice system.

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