§ 23. Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she consulted the Attorney-General264W (a) before making a public statement relating to the extradition of Mr. Kevin Barry Artt from the United States and (b) instructing Northern Ireland's Director of Security to discuss the case with Mr. Artt's solicitors. [26888]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyAny public comments that the Secretary of State made were in accordance with normal Government policy on such cases, namely that bail in Artt's case is a matter for the US authorities, whose policy, as I understand it, is to oppose bail in extradition cases. Also, it remains our policy that time served abroad by prisoners at large from the UK does not normally count towards sentences served in this jurisdiction. At the Secretary of State's request the Director of Security in the NIO, who was accompanying her in America, met Artt's attorney to listen to and pass on their representations.