MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' MPs visit cancelled by terrorism debate

The visit to the Falkland Islands of three British Members of Parliament scheduled for mid February had to be cancelled because of an important terrorism vote in the House next Wednesday.

The three MPs, guests of the Falklands' government were Dai Harvard, Labour MP for Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney; Daniel Kawczynski, Conservative MP for Shrewsbury & Atcham and Danny Alexander, Liberal Democrat MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey.

The delegation was expected in the Islands next February 15, returning to the UK February 22nd.

However UK parliamentary Whips decided all MPs must be present in the House of Commons next Wednesday February 15 for the approval of a Statutory Instrument relating to the renewal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 including the consideration of Lords Amendments to the Terrorism Bill brought from the House of Commons November 10, 2005.

The purpose of the Bill is to reform and extend previous counter-terrorist legislation to ensure that the UK law enforcement agencies have the necessary powers to counter the threat to the UK posed by terrorism.

A number of these changes are also required to implement different international Conventions, which the UK is a party to. The Bill also amends previous legislation relating to investigatory powers and the intelligence services which has become a controversial issue and is questioned by civil rights groups.