HL Deb 08 July 2002 vol 637 cc72-3WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government.

How many prisoners released under the arrangements of the Belfast Agreement of 1998 have been returned to gaol; and for what reasons. [HL4986]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

To date (1 July 2002), from a total of 447 prisoners released early under the arrangements of the Belfast Agreement, 22 have returned to prison during their licence period. Eleven have been sentenced to varying periods of imprisonment, four were acquitted or had their charges withdrawn and were released, six have yet to have their charges dealt with; and one had his licence suspended because the Secretary of State believed on the basis of information provided that he had breached the conditions of his release. From the total of 22, seven in all had their early release licences suspended because they were considered to be in breach of their licence conditions.