HC Deb 24 January 2000 vol 343 cc5-6W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the written threats issued against Mrs. Rosemary Nelson were passed to the Minister of Security's office by the Committee on the Administration of Justice. [103818]

Mr. Ingram

[holding answer 17 January 2000]: The Committee on the Administration of Justice wrote to me on 10 August 1998.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps were taken by the Government to ensure the safety of Mrs. Rosemary Nelson. [103820]

Mr. Ingram

[holding answer 17 January 2000]: The Government sought assessments from the RUC on Mrs. Nelson's security on two occasions, February and August 1998. On each occasion the RUC determined that they had no intelligence to substantiate a specific threat to Mrs. Nelson. Following the RUC's reply to our August inquiry we wrote to the Committee on the Administration of Justice on 24 September 1998. My office replied to their queries about how Mrs. Nelson could apply for inclusion in the Key Persons Protection Scheme and for the provision of a personal protection weapon. We also suggested that she may with to seek the advice of her local Crime Prevention Officer in relation to security advice at her home and at her work place.