PAROLE FOR MURDERERS WHO REFUSE TO REVEAL WHERE REMAINS OF THEIR VICTIMS ARE HIDDEN

That this House notes the recent campaign by Marie McCourt, whose daughter Helen was murdered in 1988 and whose body has never been found, for the law to be changed to prevent convicted murderers who refuse to disclose the location of their victims' bodies from being released on parole; further notes that proper burial can help to provide closure for victims' families and help to ease their suffering; believes that it is right for the law to be changed to ensure that deliberately prolonging the suffering of victims' families by preventing a burial counts against murderers who apply for parole; notes that more than 330,000 people have supported Marie's campaign; notes that as a result of this campaign the Prisons Minister asked the Parole Board to review its guidelines on such cases; is concerned that this review still has not been completed; is further concerned that the Minister for Criminal Justice and Victims assured Marie that he would discuss this issue with the Justice Secretary and respond to her, but that more than two months later she has not received a reply; and urges the Ministry of Justice to respond to Marie as soon as possible and consider whether to change the law to strengthen provisions to ensure that refusal to reveal the location of remains is fully taken into account when deciding on parole for convicted murderers.