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28 Jan 2002 : Column 1W

Written Answers to Questions

Monday 28 January 2002

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Terrorism Act

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Solicitor-General, pursuant to her answer of 3 December 2001, Official Report, column 106W, how many and what prosecutions have been initiated under section 54 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland; and how many of these charges in each jurisdiction concern (i) Northern Ireland conflict related offences and (ii) international terrorism. [29822]

The Solicitor-General: One prosecution has been initiated under section 54 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in England and Wales and that prosecution relates to international terrorism.

The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland has informed me that he is not aware of any prosecutions being initiated in Northern Ireland under section 54 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Solicitor-General, further to the Secretary of State for the Home Department's answer of 3 December 2001, Official Report, column 106W, on the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2000, (a) how many and (b) what prosecutions have been initiated under section 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in (i) Great Britain and (ii) Northern Ireland; how many of these charges in each jurisdiction concern (a) Northern Ireland conflict related offences and (b) international terrorism. [29252]

The Solicitor-General: The Terrorism Act 2000 came into force on 19 February 2001.

Prosecutions for a total of 51 offences have been initiated in England and Wales under sections 11 to 18 of the Act, of which 15 offences relate to the affairs of Northern Ireland and 35 offences relate to international terrorism. Further details are given as follows:















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The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland is aware of only one prosecution being initiated in Northern Ireland under sections 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the Terrorism Act 2000. That prosecution was under section 11(1) of the Act and was connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

Ministerial Transport

Bob Russell: To ask the President of the Council when he last used the railway service in connection with his official duties; what station he left from and what was the destination; and whether it is his intention to make greater use of the railways in future. [28104]

Mr. Robin Cook: By definition, my role as Leader of the House of Commons is largely confined to London. However, since 1 November I have travelled by rail on non- departmental business from London to York, Cheltenham and Brussels and from Edinburgh to Lockerbie.

I intend to visit the National Assembly for Wales shortly to discuss their procedures and will travel to Cardiff by rail.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Public Bodies

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list those public bodies to which his Department appoints members and which are not listed in Public Bodies 2000; [17600]

Dr. John Reid: The bodies which my Department has responsibility for and appoints members to, which are not listed in Public Bodies 2000 are as follows:





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Local Bodies

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those local bodies which were set up under legislation which is the responsibility of his Department since May 1997. [17602]

Dr. John Reid: My Department has set up the following bodies since May 1997:



Dublin Bombing (1974)

Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what request he has received for assistance from the Irish Government's Independent Commission of Inquiry into the 1974 Dublin bombing; when the request was received; what his response was; and if he will make a statement. [20973]

Dr. John Reid: An initial request was received by my predecessor from Mr. Justice Barron on 21 November 2000 asking for assistance in his Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin, Monaghan and Dundalk bombings of 1974. All relevant Government Departments and agencies have been engaged in a comprehensive trawl of their files to establish what material may still be in existence. This has required an extremely time consuming manual trawl of a huge number of files.

I met Mr. Justice Barron on 17 January to update him on the matter and I hope to be able to respond substantively to his request in the near future.

Electoral Arrangements

Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will begin the review of the electoral and structural arrangements deriving from the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement. [28843]

Mr. Browne: The recently completed Strand One Review, which looked at Assembly electoral arrangements, concluded that this issue should be looked at again in the review provided for under paragraph 8 of the Validation, Implementation and Review section of the

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Belfast Agreement. As yet, no start date has been agreed but the Government intend to discuss this with the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly parties.

Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will next meet David Ford, leader of the Alliance party of Northern Ireland, to discuss matters relating to electoral arrangements for First Minister and Deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement. [28842]

Mr. Browne: No such meeting has been scheduled or, indeed, requested.

We have just completed a three month Review of Assembly voting procedures under the provisions contained in paragraph 36 of the Strand One section of the Belfast Agreement. This was a constructive process, which helped clarify the issues for all participants. Furthermore, it was agreed at the conclusion of the review that this subject should be looked at again during the review of Assembly arrangements provided for in paragraph 8 of the Validation Implementation and Review section of the agreement.

We have yet to decide when this review should begin—I shall need to discuss this with the Irish Government and with the Assembly parties. I expect to meet David Ford in his capacity as leader of the Alliance party as a part of this process.

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