§ 17. Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the removal of the right to silence.
§ Mr. BennettI am sure that the Minister will agree that the use of the right to silence is not always an admission of guilt, as has been suggested. Is he aware that many of his hon. Friends did not want to declare how they voted during the week and that that was not necessarily an admission of guilt on their part? Will he ensure that the right to silence is not withdrawn in criminal proceedings in Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. CopeAll that we have done is to make sure that inferences can be drawn from silence in certain circumstances. That is as far as we have gone.