§ Lord Hyltonasked her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will study the recent judgment in the Argentine of Judge J J Galeano concerning the bombing of Jewish and Israeli buildings in Buenos Aires in 1992 and 1994, to establish whether they throw light on the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in London in July 1994 and possible miscarriages of justice arising out of that violence. [HL,2179]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)The Home Secretary's powers to investigate and refer alleged miscarriages of justice to the Court of Appeal came to an end on 31 March 1997 and were replaced by new powers vested in the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which is an independent body. It is now responsible for the investigation and consideration of cases of alleged wrongful conviction or sentence and, if it decides certain criteria are met, will refer a case to the appropriate appellate court, which has to treat the referral as a fresh appeal. The Criminal Appeal Act 1995 gives the commission full powers to direct and supervise investigations, approve the appointment of officers to carry out investigations on its behalf and to gain access to documents and of her relevant materials.
It is open to those who were convicted of offences arising out of the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in London in 1994, or anyone acting on their behalf, if they are of the opinion that the judgment in the Argentine court provides fresh evidence that might affect the safety of their convictions or reflects in any way on their cases, to make an application to the commission.