§ 40. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Minister of State for Defence what action is being taken consequent upon the finding of Judge Conaghan in Moore versus the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Ministry of Defence that three members of the Royal Miliary Police, including an officer, had lied while giving evidence.
§ Lord BalnielFrom the information available to me I do not consider that any discplinary action is called for.
§ 43. Mr. McMasterasked the Minister of State for Defence how many pounds of gelignite have been used by Republican 375W terrorists in explosions in Northern Ireland each month since 1st January, 1971, to the latest date for which estimates are available; how many separate explosions have occurred; and how many pounds of gelignite have been captured each month over the same period by the security forces.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithI regret that the precise information required is not
Weight of Explosive (lb.) Incidents Used in Explosions In Devices Dismantled Found in Arms Searches 1971— January … … 16 110 20 20 February … … 17 230 70 80 March … … 29 170 30 30 April … … 29 180 70 10 May … … 37 310 40 20 June … … 39 260 160 100 July … … 68 950 370 90 August … … 101 960 270 120 September … … 256 1,870 420 100 October … … 225 1,830 440 110 November … … 147 1,670 280 190 December … … 161 1,310 600 170 1972— January … … 156 1,500 830 200 February … … 140 1,400 575 85 I regret that the information I gave in Written Answers yesterday on this subject to the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) was inaccurate. I have written to him.—[Vol. 832, c. 355–6.]
§ Mr. McMasterasked the Minister of State for Defence how many incidents have been reported to the security forces in Northern Ireland of attacks upon themselves and civilians, respectively, across the Border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; and in how many reported cases of Republican terrorist attacks in Northern Ireland have those responsible been seen or suspected on reasonable grounds to have crossed the border either before or after these incidents, since 1st January, 1971.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithI regret that to give a full answer to this Question would involve disproportionate effort. However between 9th August, 1971, and 6th February, 1972, there have been 83 incidents in which gunmen have opened fire at the security forces from across the border and two incidents in which they have fired from across the border at civilians: on 10th October, 1971, shots were fired at Killeen Customs post; on 20th November, 1971, gunmen opened fire on a Land Rover containing a party of American376W readily available. The following figures show the total number of bomb incidents, including those where bombs were dismantled by Army ammunition technical officers; the estimated weights of explosive in explosions; and the weights of explosive recovered from devices dismantled and found in arms searches in circumstances indicating an intention to use it unlawfully:
journalists. In addition there have been 72 incidents involving violence in the border area—including shootings, bombings, booby traps and armed robberies—where the terrorists have either been seen to cross the border before or after the attack or are believed to have done so.
§ Mr. McMasterasked the Minister of State for Defence how many separate attacks on individuals, how many explosions, and how many other incidents in which either persons have been injured or property damaged, have been reported to Her Majesty's security forces in Northern Ireland each month since 1st August, 1969, to the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithI regret that it is not possible without disproportionate effort to provide such detailed information, or to provide it for each month since August, 1969.
In so far as the Armed Forces are concerned, I would refer my hon. Friend, for recent information on terrorist shooting incidents, to the details I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills), on 1st February and to the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) on 8th March.
377WOther detailed information, on explosions and explosive devices dismantled and on the numbers of persons killed and injured as a result of the civil disturbances, is being given separately in answer to other Questions raised today by my hon. Friend.—[Vol. 830, c. 105–6;Vol. 832, c. 355–7.]