§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been detained under the 438W provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been subsequently charged with offences; and with what offences they have been charged.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees2,433 people have been detained in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. An extension of detention under Section 7 of the 1974 Act or Section 12 of the 1976 Act has been approved in 250 cases; a further 546 people were detained for 48 hours or less: 1,637 people have been detained pending further examination at ports under the supplemental orders made under the Acts.
109 people detained under the Acts have been charged with offences in Great Britain. 11 of them have been charged with offences under the Acts. Eight of the remainder have been charged with murder, three with attempted murder, 12 with conspiracy to cause explosions, seven with unlawful possession of explosives, six with conspiracy to possess or procure explosives with intent to endanger life, six with contravention of Section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968, five with conspiracy to defraud the Inland Revenue, 16 with theft, one with robbery, nine with buglary, one with assisting offenders, two with causing criminal damage, two with attempting criminal deception, one with handling stolen vehicle, three with handling stolen property, one with unlawful wounding, one with possession of drugs, three with wasting police time, two with causing an explosion, one with harbouring a person known to have committed an arrestable offence, one with attempted theft, one with assault on police, one with being found on enclosed premises, one with possessing an offensive weapon, one with fraud, two with offences under Section 6 of the Road Traffic Act 1972, and one with criminal deception.
In addition, three people have been returned to the Irish Republic and there charged, two with burglary and one with robbery. 15 people have been returned to Northern Ireland and there charged, two with murder, one with conspiracy to cause an explosion, three with armed robbery. two with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, three with unlawful possession of explosives, two with causing an explosion, one with 439W unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, and one with burglary.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and under which sections of the Act the charges have been brought.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesEight people have been charged in Great Britain with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976: two under section 10(1)(a) and Section 10(2), two under Section 10(1)(a), one under Section 1(1)(b), one under Section 9(1), one under Section 9(2)(a), and one under Section 11(1). Three people were charged in Great Britain under Section 1(1)(a)of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has refused an extension of five days to the police for the holding of a suspect under the Prevention of Terrorism Act; and on how many occasions.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesNo.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any of the charges brought against suspects initially held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act have been dropped before the case was heard; if so, which charges; if any charges have led to an unsuccessful prosecution; if so, which charges; if any charges have led to a successful prosecution; and, if so, in each case, what was the sentence imposed.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThis information could not be made available without disproportionate effort, for the reason given in my reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 11th October 1976.—[Vol. 375, c. 43–44.]