Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

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.

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.

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.