§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) how many public interest immunity certificates he has signed in each quarter since May 1997, (b) how many requests for such certificates have originated in each sub-division of his Department and (c) how many such certificates have been issued in the course of hearings of the criminal division of the Court of Appeal. [61966]
211W
§ Mr. StrawThe number of Public Interest Immunity certificates signed by me in each quarter since May 1997 is as follows:
- May-July 1997: 0
- August-October 1997: 4
- November 1997-January 1998: 2
- February-April 1998: 2
- May-July 1998: 4
- August-October 1998: 1
- November 1998: 1.
These figures include any certificates signed by my Ministers.
Of these 14 certificates, five originated from requests made by the Prison Service and nine originated from requests made by the Security Service.
Two certificates have been issued in relation to proceedings in the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal.