s 20 Power to release certain prisoners on compassionate grounds
(1) The Department of Justice may, if satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the release of a prisoner to whom this Article applies on compassionate grounds, at any time release the prisoner on licence under this Article. (2) This Articles applies to— (a) a fixed-term prisoner; and (b) a prisoner serving an indeterminate custodial sentence. (3) The Department of Justice shall, before releasing a prisoner to whom Article 18 or 20A applies consult the Parole Commissioners unless the circumstances are such as to render such consultation impracticable. (4) In this Article “ fixed-term prisoner ” includes a person serving a determinate custodial sentence for an offence committed before the commencement of this Article. (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.