Terrorism

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on terrorism. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
28.02.2013The Special Immigration Appeals Commission
The Special Immigration Appeals Commission Tribunal (SIAC) deals with appeals against some immigration, citizenship and asylum decisions that are made on national security, diplomatic, or other public interest grounds.
05.02.2013The crisis in Mali: current military action and upholding humanitarian law
This note describes the current military intervention in Mali, led by France, which began on 11 January as a reaction to the southward advance of militant Islamist armed groups with links to al-Qaeda. It also looks at the intervention in the context of upholding humanitarian law.
18.01.2013Algeria 2013
Instability in North Africa appears to be spreading, as a hostage crisis unfolds in an Algerian gas plant run jointly by BP. The Algerian government seemed to have escaped lightly compared with other North African governments from the Arab uprisings. But the war in neighbouring Libya and increasing unrest in the Sahel region to Algeria's south have taken their toll. It remains to be seen whether Algeria's authoritarian regime will be seriously challenged by the twin threats of domestic political unrest and jihadi terrorism.
08.01.2013Select bibliography of terrorism resources
A selective bibliography of terrorism resources. This includes reports on terrorism legislation by the Independent reviewer and government policy.
07.01.2013The Terrorism Act 2000 Proscribed Organisations
This note describes the recent history and present status of "proscribed organisations" under anti-terrorism legislation (particularly the Terrorism Act 2000).

Research Papers

DateDescription
14.12.2012Justice and Security Bill
This paper has been prepared for the Second Reading of the Justice and Security Bill in the House of Commons, which is due to take place on 18 December 2012. The Bill, which has proved contentious, was originally introduced in the House of Lords on 28 May 2012. It is aimed at modernising and strengthening the oversight of the intelligence and security services and would allow the civil courts to use closed material procedures to hear sensitive evidence in cases that raised national security concerns. It would also preclude the courts from ordering the disclosure of sensitive information in certain circumstances. The Bill was revised significantly in the Lords and was introduced in the House of Commons on 28 November 2012.
06.12.2012Pakistan in 2013
2013 will be another important year for Pakistan. Federal and provincial elections will be held during the first half of the year. If, as seems increasingly likely, the Pakistan People's Party-led Government sees out its full term in office and hands over to a civilian successor, it will be the first time in Pakistan's history that this has happened. But the political and economic situation remains highly volatile and unpredictable.
14.12.2011Southeast Asia: A political and economic introduction
This paper provides a broad introduction to Southeast Asia. It offers key facts and figures about the region, followed by country studies of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It then looks more analytically at two key issues for the region: democratisation and Islamist terrorism. It ends with a select bibliography.
15.11.2011The Arab Uprisings
Since December 2010, the most profound process of change has affected the countries of the Arab world. The change spread quickly between the countries of the region, underlining the many common factors that provoked unrest. How the region's revolutions progress, however, depends on the individual characteristics of each country, which are very different. This paper looks at these similarities and differences and considers the possible outcomes in each case. The legitimacy of ruling regimes, the effect of societies' divisions along confessional lines and the role of the region's militaries are considered.
24.08.2011Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill: Committee Stage Report
This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill. It complements Research Paper 11/46 prepared for the Commons Second Reading. Report Stage and Third Reading are scheduled for 5 September 2011.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
14.11.2011Draft Detention of Terrorist Suspects (Temporary Extension) Bills.
Government response. Home Office report [Commons and Lords]
01.10.2011Legislative scrutiny: Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill - government response to the...
Government response. Home Office report [Commons]
14.09.2011Constitution Select Committee (HL) nineteenth report on the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures...
Constitution Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
06.09.2011Terrorism Act 2000 (Remedial) Order 2011: stop and search without reasonable suspicion (second report)....
Human Rights Joint Select Committee report [Commons and Lords]
07.06.2011Terrorism Act 2000 (Remedial) Order 2011: Stop and Search without Reasonable Suspicion.
Human Rights Joint Select Committee report [Commons and Lords]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
07.11.2011GUNPOWDER PLOT
That this House believes that the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot should be properly commemorated and that the significance of 5 November should be remembered; recognises the importance ...
12.10.2011ENDING COMPENSATION FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF INVOLVEMENT IN TERRORIST ACTIVITY
That this House notes with great concern the recent High Court judgement in Belfast where compensation was awarded to a man convicted of involvement in terrorist activities; and urgently ...
07.09.2011NEW DELHI BOMBING
That this House condemns the perpetrators of the bomb blast in New Delhi on 7 September 2011; sends its condolences to the families of the 11 people that were killed and the many others ...
13.07.2011BOMBINGS IN MUMBAI
That this House expresses its shock andrevulsion at the terrorist attacks on the Zaveri Bazaar, Dadar and the Opera House in Mumbai; is deeply saddened by the loss of life and suffering ...
14.06.2011COMPENSATION FOR UK VICTIMS OF OVERSEAS TERRORISM
That this House notes the continuing risks to British citizens abroad from terrorist attacks; further notes that the Government currently pays compensation to those affected by terrorism ...

Lords Library Notes

DateDescription
14.06.2012Justice and Security Bill [HL] (HL Bill 27 of 2012-13)
This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Justice and Security Bill on 19 June 2012.
03.11.2011Protection of Freedoms Bill (HL Bill 99 of 2010-12)
This Library Note provides background information in advance of the Protection of Freedoms Bill's second reading in the House of Lords.
19.09.2011Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill (HL Bill 91 of 2010-12)
The Bill would replace the existing control orders regime with Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures, to restrict the activities of individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism. This Library Note provides background information in advance of the Bill's second reading in the House of Lords.

POST Papers

DateDescription
22.09.2011Cyber Security in the UK
Cyber security refers to defences against electronic attacks launched via computer systems. This POSTnote looks at approaches to cyber security in the context of large-scale attacks, with a focus on national infrastructure.
01.07.2009The dual-use dilemma, July 2009
This note examines three scientific areas posing a significant risk of misuse and considers how to tackle dual-use dilemmas in these and other areas.

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library