Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she was informed by officials in her Department that records for the period 1987 to 1988 relating to the Royal Prerogative of Mercy had gone missing; and whether she instigated an inquiry.

I first became aware of the issue on receipt of advice from officials and a draft response to recent parliamentary questions. I have asked for an urgent review of the historical records relating to RPMs during the period 1987 to 1997 and this is now being conducted.