§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in England and Wales were charged with terrorist-type offences relating to Northern Ireland in 1989; how many of those charged were released on bail; and what was the average period between remand and trial for prisoners refused bail relating to such charges in Britain in the current year.
§ Mr. HurdThe available information relates to those charged having been detained under the prevention of terrorism legislation in connection with Northern Irish terrorism and is published quarterly for Great Britain in Home Office statistical bulletins which are placed in the Library. The latest, issue 26/89, gives in table 1 information up to the second quarter of 1989. Of the seven persons so charged in England and Wales in the first half of 1989, six were dealt with at court on the same or next day. One person charged on 13 February was remanded in custody and is currently awaiting trial.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of days spent on remand by those remanded in custody for terrorist-type offences in the first half of 1989, with regard to cases now completed in England and Wales and the number of bail applications refused, respectively.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe only information which is readily available relates to prisoners who are now in prison custody in category A and does not cover prisoners who have been released or downgraded.
During this period one such prisoner was received into custody (on 14 February). He remains in custody awaiting trial. Our records show that he has made no application for bail.