§ Mr. Maginnisasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners are presently serving sentences for offences connected with terrorism in Northern Ireland, having been sentenced to be detained during the Secretary of State's pleasure.
§ Mr. ScottThere are at present 61 persons serving sentences of detention during the Secretary of State's pleasure. All were convicted of murder charges tried as scheduled offences.
§ Mr. Maginnisasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons detained during the Secretary of State's pleasure have served (a) eight years, (b) nine years, (c) 10 years and (d) more than 10 years.
§ Mr. ScottEighteen have served between eight and nine years; 19 between nine and 10 years; and eight have served 10 years or longer.
§ Mr. Maginnisasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons detained during the Secretary of State's pleasure have had a release date set (a) prior to 23 October and (b) since 23 October.
§ Mr. ScottDuring the period from 1 January 1980 until 23 October 1984, seven persons serving sentences of detention during pleasure were released on licence or had provisional release dates fixed. Since 23 October, two more have been given provisional dates.
§ Mr. Maginnisasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons detained during the Secretary of State's pleasure will have their sentences reviewed, with the prospect of a release date being set, during the next six months.
§ Mr. ScottOn present indications about 15 such prisoners will have their cases reviewed within the next six months: but it is not possible to say at this stage what the outcome will be.
§ Mr. Maginnisasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he has implemented, since 23 October, any measures designed to provide information for persons detained during the Secretary of State's pleasure and their relatives about procedures for the review of indeterminate sentences; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he has, since 23 October, developed procedures for informing persons detained during the Secretary of State's pleasure of the results of reviews of their cases; and if he will make a statement.
(3) if he has, since 23 October, altered or modified the review system for persons detained during the Secretary of State's pleasure; and if he has any plans to do so in the future.
§ Mr. ScottI hope early next year to be able to make widely available a memorandum explaining the law in Northern Ireland relating to life and other indeterminate 597W sentences and the procedures for the review of individual cases. This will include the law relating to persons held during the Secretary of State's pleasure. Copies will be given to the inmates concerned, and to relatives and others who inquire on their behalf. Meanwhile, steps are being taken to inform inmates in advance when their cases are to be considered by the review board and of the subsequent result, and inmates will be given the opportunity to make written representations to the board. These procedures will be explained in the forthcoming memorandum of guidance. I have no plans at present to make other changes to the system for reviewing the cases of persons held during the Secretary of State's pleasure, but I continue to keep it under regular review.