On 7 May 2014 the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) announced its findings in regard to Operation Pointer, an independent investigation into the conduct of two West Midlands police officers relating to the triple murder trial arising from rioting in Birmingham in August 2011. The IPCC's conclusions are deeply troubling-it is clear that the professional standards expected of all police officers were not met in this individual case. We expect West Midlands police to act upon the report and improve its systems and procedures.

I refer to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), to the House on 4 March 2013, Official Report, columns 55-56WS. The Secretary of State announced a new process by which we would be informed of visits that may qualify for special mission status. The pilot process has improved the process for communicating and decision-making in respect of visits that may qualify for special mission status. Since the pilot's inception, we have received six such requests. There are no requests outstanding.

The former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), confirmed to the House on 12 July 2013, Official Report, columns 427W and 429W, that two of the requests which were granted, related to visits by Lieutenant General Benny Gantz of the Israeli Defence Forces and Doron Almog, Prime Minister Netanyahu's Chief of

Staff for Bedouin Status improvement. In view of the confidentiality of diplomatic exchanges, we have no plans to publish further details about requests that have been granted or refused. But if those applying for special mission status wish to announce the details of their visit to the UK, they are of course at liberty to do so.

All applications for special mission status are considered carefully in view of both obligations incumbent upon the UK under customary international law and our policy of ending impunity for the most serious of international crimes and a commitment to the protection of human rights. Above this, it is for the courts to decide on the legal consequences of any decision to grant special mission status.

I am not aware of any such undertakings. Responsibility for the prosecution of individuals rests with the police and the prosecuting authorities.

The Government has not issued any letter which can be described as providing “immunity”. Nor has it any plans to issue any such letters to members of the Armed Forces or anyone else. The letters issued to so-called “on-the-runs” do not amount to immunity, exemption or amnesty from arrest—something that could only be given effect by legislation in Parliament. No recipient of such a letter should be in any doubt that if evidence emerges after the date the letter was issued in connection with terrorist offences, they will be liable for arrest and prosecution in the normal way.

As stated in my previous answer, any potential prosecutions relating to the events on Bloody Sunday are a matter for the police and the Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions to consider.

The scope of the information requested is very wide ranging. In the absence of any parameters for a search of its records, investigating if any relevant material is held by the Department would require an extensive manual examination of a very large number of archived files. It would not be possible to do this without incurring a disproportionate cost.

The Ministry of Defence is not aware of any such undertakings.

Any potential prosecutions relating to the events on Bloody Sunday are a matter for the police and the Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions to consider.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) on 4 March 2013, Official Report, columns 55-56, announced a new process by which we would be informed of visits that may qualify for special mission status. Under customary international law a special mission is a temporary mission, representing a state, which is sent by one state to another with the consent of the latter, in order to carry out official business. In this context, "official business" will normally involve contacts with authorities of the United Kingdom, such as meeting officials of Her Majesty's Government, or attendance at a ceremonial occasion, for example a royal wedding.