Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that proposals to amend counter-terrorism legislation will maintain the civil liberties of UK citizens.

The Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill acts only upon those who have criminal convictions imposed by lawful authority of the UK criminal courts. The Bill does not change the sentences of individuals convicted of relevant terrorism offence - both European and domestic case law confirm that release provisions relate to the administration of a sentence and do not form part of the penalty.

On introduction of the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill in the House of Commons, Minister Buckland made a statement under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998 (“HRA 1998”) that in his view the provisions of the Bill are compatible with Convention rights.