§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many and what occasions and dates he has used his exceptional power to pay criminal injury or damage compensation to(a) terrorists (b) members and (c) former members of illegal organisations. [4453]
610W
§ Sir John WheelerIn the four and a half years since my right hon. and learned Friend took up his duties in Northern Ireland, the discretionary power to make payments in lieu of compensation where applicants have been disallowed because of convictions for terrorism and/or for membership of unlawful association has been exercised on four occasions and on the basis of the special circumstances of each individual case. All these applicants had previous convictions for terrorism and none for membership of unlawful associations. In 1993–94 there was one payment, in 1994–95 there were two payments and in 1995–96 there was one payment. No payments have been, or are likely to be, made to any applicant who has a continuing membership of an unlawful association.