HC Deb 17 December 1979 vol 976 cc64-5W
Mr. Bradford

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the total number of years of imprisonment involved in the collective sentencing of all Irish Republican Army personnel convicted from August 1969 till August of the current year.

Mr. Alison

The information sought is not available.

Mr. Bradford

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much compensation has been paid, and in respect of how many people, in respect of those who were killed in Northern Ireland during the period August 1969 till August of the current year and who were subsequently claimed as former members of one of the Irish Republican Army groupings;

(2) what was the total amount of compensation paid and the total number of people involved in respect of those who were killed in Northern Ireland during the period August 1969 till August of the current year, excluding those who were subsequently claimed as former members of one of the Irish Republican Army groupings.

Mr. Alison

A total of£49,384,230 was paid in compensation in respect of those who were killed and those who were injured between August 1969 and August 1979. Records are not maintained on a basis which would allow the figure for compensation paid in respect of those killed to be given separately without disproportionate effort.

Under the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977, compensation cannot be paid in respect of a person who is a member of an unlawful association. Once a claim has been settled, in accordance with the law, no further records are kept. I cannot say, therefore, whether any compensation has been paid to people who were subsequently claimed to be members of an unlawul association.

Mr. Bradford

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people who admitted membership of one of the Irish Republican Army groupings have been convicted for terrorist offences from August 1969 till August of the current year.

Mr. Alison

The information sought could not be assembled except at an unjustifiable cost.