§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the Chief Constable of the RUC requested an investigation into the operation of the Force Research Unit; how many items of correspondence he has received from the RUC on the subject of the FRU in the past 12 months; and at how many meetings this subject has been discussed. [150579]
§ Mr. IngramOn 19 April 1999 the Chief Constable asked Sir John Stevens to investigate the murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane plus associated allegations contained within the British Irish Rights Watch report on the subject. An investigation into the activities of the FRU is an important part of Sir John's investigation. In the last 12 months neither the Secretary of State nor his predecessor received any correspondence from the RUC specifically on the subject of the activities of the FRU. In that same period the Stevens Inquiry has been discussed at ministerial level in a number of meetings held with a range of individuals.