§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will amend the terms of reference for the Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres to permit the deputy commissioner to be present at interviews with terrorist suspects in the police offices. [309]
§ Sir John WheelerFollowing discussions with the Royal Ulster Constabulary, I have today placed in the Library of the House revised terms of reference for the Independent commissioner for the Holding Centres to permit his deputy to be present at interviews with terrorist suspects in the police offices, subject to certain caveats agreed by both the commissioner and the RUC. The change will come into effect on 1 December 1995.
This change in the role of the deputy commissioner will further assure the public that those persons detained in the holding centres continue to be properly treated in accordance with their legal rights and the standards required by the relevant codes of practice.