§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the grounds for maintaining the state of emergency related to the affairs of Northern Ireland; and what plans he has to withdraw the United Kingdom derogation from its international obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. [7372]
§ Mr. StrawThe Government are currently considering what change might be made to the arrangements for extending detention under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989. Substituting judicial for executive authority for extensions would require primary legislation. In the interim, the Government 25W consider that the derogation in respect of article 5(3) of the European Convention on Human Rights continues to be necessary.