§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her answer of 12 May 1999,Official Report, columns 170–71, if, in exceptional circumstances, by permission or on request by the interviewees (a) the Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres, (b) the Chairman of the Independent Commission on Police Complaints, (c) the Police Ombudsman and (d) representatives of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture may have access to an audio recording of an interview conducted in a holding centre. [86136]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 9 June 1999]The circumstances in which the persons mentioned can have access to audio recordings of police interviews with terrorist suspects in the holding centres are as follows
(a) There are currently no arrangements in place for the Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres to gain access to the audio recordings of police interviews with terrorist suspects.(b) Under the Royal Ulster Constabulary (Complaints, etc.) Regulations 1988, the Independent Commission on Police Complaints is to be supplied with such information and documents as it may reasonably require relating to a complaint or matter referred to it, for the purpose of enabling it to fulfil its functions. This could include listening to audio recordings of police interviews with terrorist suspects if considered relevant to such a complaint or matter.(c) Provision for a new Police Ombudsman has been made in the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998. Once appointed and operational, he or she will take over the functions of the Chairman of the ICPC, and in turn will have access to material (including audio recordings) considered relevant to a particular complaint or matter made or referred to him or her, as the case may be.(d) The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, established by virtue of Article 1 of the European Convention of that name, may have access to information which is necessary for the Committee to carry out its task. This would appear to include access to audio recordings if necessary for that purpose. In seeking such access, the Committee is required to have regard to applicable rules of national law and professional ethics.