Terrorism Legislation (Hansard, 8 February 2000)

§ Mr. Ingram

A consultation paper "Legislation Against Terrorism" (Cm 4178) was published by the Government in December 1998 and was followed by a period of consultation. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission responded in April 1999. In all, the Government received a total of 80 responses from interested groups, practitioners and members of the public.

The Human Rights Commission's response was considered closely as were all the responses to the White paper and an analysis of the responses was set out in a 84W brief summary compiled by the Home Office, excluding 29 respondees whose representations were to remain confidential. The previous Secretary of State also met Professor Dickson, Chief Commissioner, in July 1999 to discuss their response and particularly their proposed approach to counter-terrorist legislation.

The Government published the Terrorism Bill on 2 December 1999. In preparing this it drew on the advice Lord Lloyd of Berwick gave in his report on the future of Counter-Terrorism Legislation published in December 1996, and took into account the views expressed by those who responded to the consultation paper. My officials and legal advisers have also met with the Human Rights Commission following introduction of the Bill to discuss the new legislation in detail and address any ECHR compatibility issues they have raised.

In parallel with the passage of the Terrorism Bill, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has commissioned a review of the Diplock Court system. This was announced during the Bill's Second Reading on 14 December 1999. The Diplock Review Group has invited comment from legal and human rights bodies and I have written to Northern Ireland political parties for their views. Any responses will be considered by the Group in preparing its report for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.