Asked by: Khalid Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Perry Barr)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the families of all victims of crimes for which the beneficiaries of so-called comfort letters were convicted have yet been informed that such letters were issued.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
The administrative scheme established by the previous government operated as follows; the police (and in some cases the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland) checked whether sufficient evidence existed in each case at that time for named individuals to be questioned, arrested or prosecuted if they returned to Northern Ireland or any other part of the United Kingdom.
If it was concluded that there was no prospect of any prosecution based on the evidence then available, the individuals were informed that they were not wanted by the police – the letters were only ever a statement of fact regarding an individual's status with the police and prosecuting authorities at a particular point in time i.e. whether they were sought for arrest or not. Lady Justice Hallett has been appointed to investigate the administrative scheme and to provide a full public account of how it operated.
Asked by: Khalid Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Perry Barr)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether West Midlands Police were contacted on the issuing of so-called comfort letters to anyone suspected of involvement in the Birmingham Pub Bombings.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
I am not aware of any contact with West Midlands Police by my Department prior to the issuing of any letters to individuals involved in the on-the-runs administrative scheme.
Asked by: Khalid Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Perry Barr)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will publish witness statements given to the Downey trial.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
This is a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.