asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many convictions for terrorist offences have been obtained since the publication of the Bennett report; and how many were obtained in the same period in 1978.

The Bennett report was published on 16 March 1979, but statistics are available only in respect of complete months. In the period 1 April 1979 to 31 October 1979, 422 persons were convicted at Belfast Crown Court of offences which are scheduled under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978. In the corresponding period in 1978, 411 persons were convicted of similar offences.