§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of people held for(a) 48 hours or under and (b) over 48 hours under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism legislation for each year since 1975. [19069]
§ Mr. HowardThe number is set out in the table.
In Great Britain Under 48 hours Over 48 hours 1974 (from 29 November) 13 46 1975 930 137 1976 1,006 60 1977 824 29 1978 599 23 1979 617 240 1980 411 126 1981 216 58 1982 183 37 1983 146 45 1984 163 40 1985 172 94 1986 145 57 1987 174 51 1988 161 25 1989 145 36 1990 158 35 1991 123 30 1992 143 17 1993 113 39 1994 57 4 1995 16 18 Figures for Northern Ireland prior to 1989 are not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures from 1989 to 1994, the last full-year figures are available, are as follows:
In Northern Ireland Under 48 hours Over 48 hours 1989 1,119 1,580 1990 1,140 1,550 1991 1,186 1,681 1992 1,384 1,795 1993 1,252 1,638 1994 1,168 1,511
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of people in(a) Northern Ireland, (b) England and Wales and (c) Scotland for each year since 1974 who have been (i) questioned, (ii) charged, (iii) prosecuted and (iv) convicted under the prevention of terrorism legislation. [19068]
§ Mr. HowardFrom 29 November 1974 until 22 March 1984, 141 people were charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 following detention under those Acts. Fifteen cases were not proceeded with, 21 were acquitted and 105 were found guilty.
201WFrom 22 March 1984 until 31 December 1995, 94 people had been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1984 and 1989. Seventy-one were found guilty, four were acquitted and 19 cases were not proceeded with.
There are no figures available for the total number of people questioned under Prevention of Terrorism legislation.
Figures are not kept separately for England and Wales and for Scotland, and a year-by-year breakdown of charges could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Figures for Northern Ireland are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the administration and future of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989; and if he will make a statement. [19070]
§ Mr. HowardSince the Act was last renewed, one letter has been forwarded by a Member of Parliament.
In his report on the operation of the Act in 1995, the reviewer, Mr. J. J. Rowe QC, has recommended that the Act be renewed in its entirety. This view is support by the police.
Lord Lloyd has invited public comments on his inquiry into the continued need for counter-terrorism legislation and is receiving a considerable response.