§ David BurnsideTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the relationship between Sinn Fein's elected representatives and the membership of the Provisional IRA and its Army Council. [146646]
§ Jane KennedyThe Provisional IRA remains a proscribed terrorist organisation, Sinn Fein are not—they are a political party. However, it is the Government's view that both organisations are inextricably linked. Information about the links between individual members of Sinn Fein and the IRA is an intelligence matter and in line with Part II, Paragraph 4 ("Law enforcement and legal proceedings") of the Code of Practice on access to Government Information, it would be inappropriate to comment.