Paragraph 16 I1

Amend Article 20 (power to release certain prisoners on compassionate grounds) as follows.

In paragraphs (1) and (3) for “Secretary of State” substitute “Department of Justice”.

After paragraph (4) insert—

“(5)

The Secretary of State may notify the Department of Justice that a prisoner is not to be released under this Article without the Secretary of State’s agreement; and, if the Secretary of State gives such a notification in relation to a prisoner, the Department of Justice may not release the prisoner under this Article without the Secretary of State’s agreement.

(6)

But the Secretary of State may—

(a)

give a notification, or

(b)

refuse his agreement to a release,

only if his decision to do so is arrived at (wholly or partly) on the basis of protected information.”