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90874

registered interest
date	05/09/2014
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Donal Donnelly
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy in relation to Mr Donal Donnelly in 1985 was published in the Belfast and London Gazettes; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	208398
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>There are no statutory requirements relating to the publication of pardons granted under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy and I am not aware of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy in relation to Mr Donal Donnelly being published in the Belfast or London gazettes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers question first answered 12/09/2014 10:23:33 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

79105

registered interest
date	21/07/2014
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Administrative Scheme for the "On the Runs" Independent Review
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the report of the Hallett Review, how in the absence of the lost records a beneficiary of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy prior to 1997 is able to demonstrate the grant of the exercise of the Royal Prerogative; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	206670
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Hallett Review drew attention to issues regarding record-keeping about the RPM, which the Northern Ireland Office is addressing. The Hallett Review did not deal with the exercise of the RPM prior to 1997 but only touches upon it in passing. During the pre-1998 period the use of RPM was relatively common: it was not recorded centrally and records are likely to have been destroyed in accordance with proper protocols. Where the RPM was used prior to 1997 to remit (i.e. shorten) the sentences of individuals who had already been convicted of offences, their release from custody can, on occasion, provide some evidence of the exercise of the RPM. In addition, there may in some cases, be contemporaneous correspondence which provides evidence of the exercise of the RPM.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers question first answered 10/09/2014 14:56:21 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

79106

registered interest
date	21/07/2014
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Administrative Scheme for the "On the Runs" Independent Review
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to paragraph 2.58 of the report of the Hallett Review, whether the individual x has been prosecuted; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	206671
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The decision whether or not to prosecute an individual is a matter for the independent prosecuting authorities.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers question first answered 04/09/2014 11:34:58 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

62141

registered interest
date	16/06/2014
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Terrorism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who the beneficiaries in Northern Ireland of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy granted by means of a Warrant under the Royal Sign Manual were in the last 25 years; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	200854
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>As the hon Member is aware, the assessment of my Department is that to release the names of individuals granted the RPM years ago would not be appropriate, given the time that has passed since the RPM was last used and the potential legal issues this would raise. There are, of course, means by which names of RPM recipients become public, including in the course of legal proceedings, which is a matter for the courts.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers question first answered 23/06/2014 12:57:39 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

58265

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Terrorism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy has been granted in Northern Ireland in the last 20 years by means of Letters Close (Litterae Clausae); and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	199281
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2014 answer text <p>Since 1997, no Letters Patent or Letters Close have been issued in Northern Ireland in relation to the Royal Prerogative of Mercy (RPM). Where the RPM was used in this period by the previous Government, it was effected by means of a Royal Warrant.</p><p>As the Hon Member is aware, my department continues to seek information on the use of the RPM between 1987 and 1997, including through contacts with other parts of Government which might hold relevant information. On the basis of the work carried out on this so far, there is no indication that Letters Patent or Letters Close were issued between 1987 and 1997 in relation to the use of the RPM in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers grouped question UIN 199279 question first answered 09/07/2014 15:45:58 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

58266

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Terrorism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the Answer of 1 May 2014, Official Report, column 762W, on terrorism, what steps she is taking to recover information for the period 1987-97 for which records could not be found; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	199283
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The review of Departmental records I ordered in May is ongoing.</p><p>This includes seeking information on use of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy (RPM) for the years 1987 to 1997 from Departments where relevant material might be held.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers question first answered 23/06/2014 12:54:28 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

58267

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Terrorism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, by which (a) documents and (b) other means the recipients of a Royal Pardon, following the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy, are able to demonstrate to a court or any law enforcement agency, that they are the beneficiaries of exercise of the Royal Prerogative; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	199282
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Following a search of the records held by the Northern Ireland Office, no evidence has been found to indicate that between 1979 and 2002 the RPM was used to do anything other than to remit (i.e. shorten) the sentences of individuals who had already been convicted of offences. It is therefore the release from custody that demonstrates the exercise of the RPM.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers question first answered 30/06/2014 13:52:00 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

58268

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Terrorism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the Answer of 1 May 2014, Official Report, column 762W, on terrorism, if the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy to which she refers was by way of Letters Patent; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	199279
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2014 answer text <p>Since 1997, no Letters Patent or Letters Close have been issued in Northern Ireland in relation to the Royal Prerogative of Mercy (RPM). Where the RPM was used in this period by the previous Government, it was effected by means of a Royal Warrant.</p><p>As the Hon Member is aware, my department continues to seek information on the use of the RPM between 1987 and 1997, including through contacts with other parts of Government which might hold relevant information. On the basis of the work carried out on this so far, there is no indication that Letters Patent or Letters Close were issued between 1987 and 1997 in relation to the use of the RPM in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers grouped question UIN 199281 question first answered 09/07/2014 15:45:58 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

58269

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Terrorism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list the people who are known to have received the Royal Prerogative of Mercy by Letters Patent or under any other authority, in the last 20 years; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	199280
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2014 answer text <p>Since 1997, no Letters Patent have been issued in Northern Ireland in relation to the Royal Prerogative of Mercy (RPM). Where the RPM was used in this period by the previous Government, it was effected by means of a Royal Warrant.</p><p>As the Hon Member is aware, my department continues to seek information on the use of the RPM between 1987 and 1997, including through contacts with other parts of Government which might hold relevant information.</p><p>As the Hon Member is also aware, the assessment of my department is that to release the names of individuals granted the RPM years ago would not be appropriate, given the time that has passed since the RPM was last used and the potential legal issues this would raise. There are of course means by which names of RPM recipients become public, including in the course of legal proceedings, which is a matter for the courts.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers question first answered 09/07/2014 15:39:26 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

49772

registered interest
date	06/05/2014
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2014, Official Report, column 762W, on terrorism, in what circumstances the information pertaining to grants of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy between 1987 and 1997 was lost; and what steps she plans to take to recover that information.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	197927
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The information provided in my written answer of 1 May 2014 (Official Report, Column 762W) was based on information held by my Department. I first became aware of the issue of missing files while preparing to answer that question. I directed that a review take place, along with other relevant Departments, of the historical records relating to RPMs during the period 1987 to 1997. This is ongoing.</p><p>Records indicate that the vast majority of uses of the RPM referred to in my answer of 1 May did not relate to terrorist offences. Historically, the RPM was used to remit sentences of individuals before statutory means existed to do so. This included releasing individuals from prison for compassionate reasons (e.g. those who were terminally ill), individuals who assisted the police and prosecuting authorities (now provided for by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005), or to correct errors in calculating release dates. Further information on the general operation of the RPM can be found in the Ministry of Justice's “Review of the Executive Royal Prerogative Powers: Final Report”, published in October 2009.</p><p>In a written answer to the Member for North West Norfolk on 17 March 2014 (Official Report, Column 368W), I repeated an answer given on 20 March 2003 by the then-Secretary for State for Northern Ireland to the Member for Lagan Valley (Official Report, Column 895W) – namely that 18 individuals had been granted the RPM in relation to terrorist offences since 1998. Given the RPM has not been used since 2002 and has not been used by this Government, the answer given was the same as the 2003 one. However, early findings from the review of files have indicated that at least one of these cases did not relate to a terrorist offence and in one other case the records do not indicate whether or not the offence was terrorism related.</p><p>In relation to the remaining 16 uses of the RPM between 2000 and 2002 (which did concern terrorist offences), I understand that previous Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland used the RPM in relation to individuals who for technical reasons fell outside of the letter of the Early Release Scheme, to shorten (i.e. not waive or remove) sentences in order that individuals fell within what I understand the then-Government saw as the spirit of the Scheme.</p><p>In other words, the RPM was used to correct what the last Government viewed as discrepancies between the letter and the intention of the Belfast Agreement and the subsequent Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act – that for a certain category of terrorist offences, offenders could be released after serving two years of their sentences.</p><p>The reasons for exercising the RPM in the 16 terrorism-related cases are summarised as follows:</p><p>· to correct an anomaly in the treatment of an offender convicted of the same offence(s) and given the same sentence as co-defendants but who would otherwise have served longer in prison;</p><p>· to release prisoners who would have been eligible for early release under the Belfast Agreement had they not transferred to a different jurisdiction;</p><p>· to release prisoners who would have been eligible to be released under the Belfast Agreement had they not served sentences outside the jurisdiction having been convicted extraterritorially, or;</p><p>· to release prisoners who would have been eligible to be released under the Belfast Agreement had their offences (which subsequently became scheduled offences) been scheduled at the time they were committed.</p><p>The names of the 16 individuals granted the RPM in relation to terrorist offences since 2000 are currently being considered as part of an ongoing court case in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chipping Barnet answering member printed Mrs Theresa Villiers grouped question UIN 197928 197929 question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey