HL Deb 24 March 1998 vol 587 cc241-2WA
Lord Burton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which of the weapons stolen from, or unaccounted for by, the Army in the last 10 years, and subsequently recovered in Northern Ireland, were known to be in the possession of: (a) Loyalists; (b) Republicans; (c) others; and what was the total number of weapons recovered. [HL995]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert)

The information requested is set out below for all British Army weapons lost, stolen or otherwise unaccounted for in Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years:

Number of weapons recovered from:
Year Total recovered Loyalists Republicans Others1
1988 4 3 1
1989 7 4 1 2
1990 3 1 2
1991 4 2 2
1992 3 1 2
1993
1994 3 1 2
1995 2 2
1996 2 2
1997 1 1
1Others—Non-terrorist/criminal/not known.