§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time people are detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 on Merseyside and other points of entry.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe information readily available on the length of detention of persons detained in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 is published in table 6 of Home Office statistical bulletin No. 1/82 a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. The detailed information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons have been convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 to the latest date;
- (2) if he will list the numbers of persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 at points of entry; and at which points they were detained;
- (3) how many people have been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 to the latest available date; and how many have been charged under it.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe information readily available is published in Home Office statistical bulletin 1/82, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the names of organisations that have made representations for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976.
§ Mr. WhitelawSince the renewal last March of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976, the following organisations have written objecting to the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act or the way in which it operates in general:
- Hackney Trades Council
- London Students Organisation
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) under which Acts persons have been convicted on Merseyside after being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 but not charged under it;
- (2) if he will list in the Official Report the number of people convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 on Merseyside to the latest date;
- (3) how many persons have been detained on Merseyside under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976; and how many persons were charged under it.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe number of persons detained in Merseyside under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 in the period 29 November 1974 to 31 December 1981 is published in table 2 of Home Office statistical bulletin 1/82 a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Nine persons detained in Merseyside were subsequently charged with offences under the Acts, eight of whom were found guilty by the courts. Numbers of pesons so detained in Merseyside and found guilty of other offences are given in the following table.
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Persons detained in Merseyside under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 and found guilty only of criminal offences other than under the Acts by principal offence and location of court. 29 November 1974 to 31 December 1981 Number of persons Principal Offence* Total Found guilty courts: In Merseyside Elsewhere 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 Bugglary 8 — 8 Theft etc 13 6 7 Other offences 5 3 2 Total 46 17 29 * If found guilty of more than one offence, the principal offence is that for which the most severe sentence was imposed.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is satisfied with working of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he has any plans to amend the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 is due to lapse on 24 March unless renewed. I shall make a statement at the appropriate time.