HL Deb 23 July 1987 vol 488 cc1559-60WA
Lord Renton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they expect to respond to the recommendations made by Viscount Colville of Culross in his review of the operation in 1986 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984.

The Minister of State, Home Office (The Earl of Caithness)

We have considered very carefully the recommendation made by Viscount Colville on the use of the exclusion power in the Prevention of Terrorism Act. We have decided that it would not be wise now to discontinue the powers in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Act. We will keep the matter under review in the light of any comments Lord Colville makes in his report on the Act as a whole to be published later this year.

Lord Colville made several important points on the administration of the Act both by the police and government departments. We have accepted his recommendations on a number of these points and a copy of a letter to Chief Officers of Police will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.