HC Deb 09 March 1981 vol 1000 cc231-3W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the total number of persons arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act to the latest available date;

(2) how many persons have been convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act to the latest available date;

(3) if he will list the offences of which persons who have been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act have been convicted;

(4) what is the total number of persons arrested on Mersyside under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act to the latest available date.

Mr. Whitelaw

The information available relates to the period from 29 November 1974 to 31 December 1980 and is published in tables 1, 2, 4 and 5 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 1/81, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the offences under which persons who have been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provision) Act have been convicted on Mersey side;

(2) how many persons have been convicted on Merseyside under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act to the latest available date.

Mr. Whitelaw

The information requested is given in the following table together with figures of persons detained in Merseyside but found guilty elsewhere; no one was found guilty in Merseyside after having been detained elsewhere.

Persons detained in Mersyside under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 and found guilty of criminal offences, by principal offence and location of court
29 Nov. 1974–31 Dec. 1980 Number of persons
Principal Offence✶ Total Found guilty by courts:
In Merseyside Elsewhere
Offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Legislation 4 4 —
Murder 1 — 1
Attempted Murder 3 — 3
Conspiracy to murder 1 1 —
Causing/conspiracy to cause explosions 5 1 4
Unlawful possession/ conspiracy to possess explosives with intent to endanger life 3 3 —
Other violence against the person 2 2 —
Firearms offences 2 1 1
Robbery 3 — 3
Burglary 8 — 8
Theft etc. 13 6 7
Other offences 5 3 2
Total 50 21 29
✶If found guilty of more than one offence, the principal offence if that for which the most severe sentence was imposed.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the names of organisations which have made representations calling for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act over the past two years.

Mr. Whitelaw

In the past two years the following organisations have written objecting to the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act or to the way in which it operates in general:

  • Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers, North West Divisional Conference.
  • Communist Party of Great Britain.
  • Council of Irish County Associations.
  • Ealing Community Relations Council,
  • Keele University Students Union.
  • National Union of Journalists, Athlone Branch.
  • National Union of Journalists, East London Branch.
  • Oxford Student Liberal Society.
  • Stalybridge and Hyde Constituency Labour Party.
  • Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Whitelaw

The Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 is due to lapse on 25 March, unless renewed. On 24 February I laid a draft continuance order before Parliament. Renewal of the Act will require affirmative resolution by both Houses of Parliament, and I shall make a statement at the appropriate time.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now agree that fingerprints taken of people arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, but later released without charges being made, be now destroyed.

Mr. Whitelaw

No. The fingerprints of persons arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 are retained centrally while the Act remains in force.