asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many offenders have been released as a result of the provisions of the Belfast agreement 1998; how many of those are loyalist; and how many are republican. [HL1009]

Since 10 April 1998 a total of 450 persons have been released on licence in accordance with the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. Of these, 242 were affiliated to republican organisations, 196 to loyalist organisations and 12 had no particular affiliation.

Important safeguards were built into the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act. Those released under the Act were released on licence conditional on them not supporting a specified organisation; not becoming involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism; and, in the case of a life sentence prisoner, not becoming a danger to the public. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland may suspend a licence and a licensee be returned to prison if he/she is believed to have, or is likely to have, broken all or any of his/her licence conditions.