§ LORD KILBRACKENasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many persons have been detained under interim custody orders since the coming into force of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act; how many of their cases were referred to a Commissioner for determination under Schedule 1 to that Act; how many of these have been determined and with what result; and what is the (a) average and (b) maximum period that a person has been detained without his case being determined.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, NORTHERN IRELAND (LORD BELSTEAD)Since the438WA Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973 came into force on August 8, 1973, 147 people have been arrested and held under interim custody orders. The cases of all 147 have been referred to a Commissioner for determination under Schedule 1 to the Act. Up to January 23, 1974, two of these cases had been determined; as a result one person has been discharged and one has been ordered to be detained. The average period that a person has been held under an interim custody order is 92 days and the maximum 162 days.
The number of Commissioners has been increased from eight to fifteen by new appointments since the beginning of January.
House adjourned at nine minutes past six o'clock.