787.The Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998 (“the 1998 Act”) was passed following emergency parliamentary procedure in the wake of the Omagh bombing in August 1998.
788.There were 2 main parts in the 1998 Act. Sections 1 to 4 made provision about procedure and forfeiture in relation to offences concerning proscribed organisations. Sections 5 to 7 concern conspiracy to commit offences outside the United Kingdom.
789.Section 8 requires that a statutory report on the working of the Act be laid before both Houses of Parliament on an annual basis. Although the section is drafted in such a way so as it applies generally to the working of the Act as a whole, it is understood that the requirement was directed principally at the terrorism provisions in sections 1 to 4, which have now been repealed.
790.Section 8 is now considered redundant. It has been repealed for England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. This section repeals section 8 of the 1998 Act as it applies to Scotland. The effect is that the section will be repealed UK wide.
Commentary on Sections Part 10 - Miscellaneous Section 199 - Annual report on Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998