asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people convicted of terrorist offences in Northern Ireland are believed to have taken refuge in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

One person convicted of a terrorist-type offence in Northern Ireland is known to have taken refuge in the United States, and proceedings have been started to extradite him.

Has my hon. Friend noticed the partiality with which the United States courts seem to interpret the phrase "political crimes"? Has he observed that whenever the Israeli Government want the extradition of somebody arrested on a criminal charge that person is always returned, but when Her Majesty's Government make the same request the courts seem frequently to find excuses for not doing so? Will my hon. Friend bring this discrepancy to the attention of the American Government, through the Foreign Office?

It is not for me to comment on the decisions of courts in the United States, or any other country. I am satisfied that the authorities in the United States act in accordance with the extradition treaty between our two countries.