§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many persons were detained under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts 1973 and 1978 in 1985;
(2) what information he has concerning the number of people who were detained in 1985 under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 and who were charged with scheduled offences under the Act, and other Acts, separately;
(3) if he will make a statement concerning the operation of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 in 1985 with regard to the annual total of arrests made under the Act; and how many persons arrested under the Act were detained for the following periods: (a) up to 12 hours, (b) 12 to 24 hours, (c) 24 to 36 hours, (d) 36 to 48 hours, (e) 48 to 60 hours and (f) 60 to 72 hours, indicating those numbers (i) not ultimately charged under the Act and released, (ii) those charged under the Act, (iii) those charged with an offence but not under the Acts, indicating which offences and (iv) those charged under the Act but not initially detained under the Act.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 3 February 1986, c. 77]: In 1985 there were 986 arrests by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and 61 by the members of the armed forces under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978. Some of those arrested by members of the armed forces would be recorded in the Royal Ulster Constabulary figures if they were subsequently handed over to the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Of those arrests carried out by the Royal Ulster Constabulary, in 784 of the cases the persons concerned were released without charge; in one case a person was subsequently charged with offences under the Act only; in one case a person was charged with offences under the Act and with offences under other legislation; and in 200 other cases persons were charged with offences under other 274W legislation. One hundred and seventy three of the cases involved persons charged with scheduled offences, though details of the offences are not readily available.
Information on persons charged with an offence under the Act after arrest under other provisions and information on the length of time individuals were held under the Act could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.