HC Deb 18 February 1988 vol 127 cc705-6W
31. Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refer the case of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings to an independent review body of the sort recommended by the House Select Committee on Home Affairs report on "Miscarriages of Justice".

35. Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an independent review body to examine evidence that the persons responsible for the Birmingham pub bombings are living in Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

38. Mr. John Garrett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish an independent review tribunal to examine evidence in relation to the Birmingham pub bombings that was not admissible before the Court of Appeal.

44. Mr. Sedgemore

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an independent review body, along the lines recommended by Lord Devlin and the Home Affairs Select Committee, to review evidence by the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) that he has traced and interviewed the four persons solely responsible for the Birmingham pub bombings and that they are all in Ireland.

57. Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refer the case of the Birmingham pub bombings to an independent tribunal; and if he will make a statement.

58. Sir John Farr

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refer the case of the Birmingham pub bombings to an independent review body.

Mr. John Patten

I refer hon. Members to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Deptford and Lewisham (Ms. Ruddock) on 15 February at column437.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish an independent review body to consider evidence that the persons actually responsible for the Birmingham pub bombings are not in custody; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Deptford and Lewisham (Ms. Ruddock) on 15 February at column437.

I understand that on application by the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings the Court of Appeal has certified that there has been raised a point of law of general public importance. I understand further that the court has refused the six men leave to appeal to the House of Lords, but that: it is now open to them to apply to the House of Lords for leave to pursue the point. Consequently, the matter is now sub-judice.