HC Deb 27 June 1977 vol 934 cc13-4W
Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners are currently serving sentences in prisons in England and Wales for Irish Republican Army terrorist offences; and what is the average length of these sentences;

(2) how many persons are at present remanded in custody in England and Wales for alleged Irish Republican Army offences; and how long each of them has been on remand.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

There is no separate offence of terrorism in our criminal law. Whether an offender can be regarded as a terrorist and whether his offences were linked with particular organisations is a matter of judgment. The following figures are based on our assessment of all relevant information about offences believed to have been connected with Irish Republican organisations:

(a) Convicted prisoners Total number 92. Number serving sentences of life imprisonment (including detention under Her Majesty's Pleasure) 29. Average length of determinate sentences 11.4 years.

(b) Unconvicted prisoners Total number 5. Time spent on remand* 15 months (2 cases), 14½ months, 13½ months, 4½ months.

* In one case some time on remand was spent on bail.