§ Mr. Frank Maguireasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the total number of prisoners in England and Wales convicted of terrorist-type offences connected with loyalist organisations; and how many are classified as category A;
(2) what is the total number of prisoners in England and Wales convicted of terrorist-type offences connected with the IRA; and how many are category A.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesWhether or not a prisoner's offence is of a terrorist nature and whether it is linked with a particular organisation, is a matter of judgment. According to our assessment of all relevant information, 90 persons connected with the IRA are serving sentences in prisons in England and Wales of whom 78 are in security Category A. The equivalent figures for prisoners connected with loyalist organisations are 15 and six.