HC Deb 11 July 2002 vol 388 cc1192-3W
Lembit Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the role of the Terrorism Act 2000 in addressing the problems of(a) paramilitary flags, (b) paramilitary murals and (c) kerbstone painting; and if he will make a statement. [67223]

Jane Kennedy

Section 13 of the Terrorism Act makes it an offence to wear clothing or to wear, carry or display an article which arouses reasonable suspicion that the individual concerned is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation. The Act makes no specific provision about flags, murals or kerbstone painting. Many of the flags, murals or kerbstone paintings in Northern Ireland are in any event of sectarian rather than paramilitary nature.