HC Deb 25 April 1978 vol 948 cc495-6W
Miss Maynard

asked the Secretary of State for Home Department (1) what is the number of terrorist prisoners transferred from England to Northern Ireland who are thought to have had loyalist sympathies in the years 1969 to 1978;

(2) what is the number of terrorist prisoners transferred from England to Northern Ireland who are thought to have had Republican sympathies in the years 1969 to 1978.

Dr. Summerskill

Four prisoners serving sentences in England and Wales for acts of acknowledged IRA terrorism have been permanently transferred to prisons in Northern Ireland, all in 1975. No prisoners serving sentences here for acts of acknowledged "loyalist" terrorism have been similarly transferred, but one prisoner, believed at the time to have "loyalist" links who was serving a sentence for an offence which was not an act of terrorism, was transferred to Northern Ireland in 1975.

Miss Maynard

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of Loyalist prisoners who have been permitted to return to Northern Ireland for the purpose of facilitating visits to their relatives.

Dr. Summerskill

Since 1974, two prisoners believed to have had links with "loyalist" organisations connected with the situation in Northern Ireland have been transferred temporarily to a prison there to receive visits from their relatives.

Miss Maynard

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners transferred from Northern Ireland to either Scotland or England and Wales to serve their sentences were at the time of their conviction serving members of the Armed Forces; how many were transferred to Scotland and how many were transferred to England and Wales in the years 1969 to 1978.

Dr. Summerskill

Forty-five prisoners who at the time of conviction were members or former members of the Armed Forces have been transferred from Northern Ireland to prisons in England and Wales. The number transferred to prisons in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.