§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to start a full-scale independent review into the emergency legislation; and what will he its timetable. [32692]
§ Sir John WheelerThe timing of the independent review of the continuing need for the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 and the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 has yet to be decided. The Government will take a number of factors into account before initiating the review and deciding upon its timetable. These will include assessing the security situation in Northern Ireland to see if confidence in a lasting peace has been clearly established.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if it is his policy that internment should not feature in the proposed successor legislation to the Emergency Powers Act 1964. [32693]
§ Sir John WheelerProvision for the detention of terrorists—in section 34 of and schedule 3 to the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991—are currently
444W
Less than 24 hrs 24 hrs-47 hrs 59 mins 48 hrs-71 hrs 59 mins 72 hrs-119 hrs 59 mins 120 hrs-167 hrs 59 mins 1994 January 24 99 3 43 0 February 17 101 10 26 7 March 20 110 3 31 2 April 27 77 4 29 24 May 30 55 7 58 4 June 42 96 7 22 5 July 43 69 3 14 1 August 25 89 5 27 5 September 8 44 2 7 0 October 10 54 1 0 0 November 10 55 0 0 2 December 14 32 0 0 0 not in force. The Government will carefully consider the continuing need for such provisions in the context of preparing the successor legislation to replace the existing Act which expires next year.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussion he has had with the Chief Constable of the RUC on the desirability of using Police and Criminal Evidence Act powers rather than emergency legislation wherever possible; and what was the response. [32695]
§ Sir John WheelerDiscussions between Ministers and the Chief Constable on security matters remain confidential. However, it is hoped that a changing and improving security situation will mean that the use of the powers contained in the emergency legislation will continue to decrease to the point where they are no longer needed.