§ 1. Sir F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many security incidents in Ulster have taken place in total and in categories, of deaths, personal injuries and damage to property during the 260 days preceding Her Majesty's Government's political initiative on 24th March as compared with the 260 days following it.
§ The Minister of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. David Howell)Between 8th July 1971 and 23rd March 1972 there were 7,058 security incidents resulting in 230 deaths and 2,503 injuries requiring hospital treatment. From 24th March 1972 until 8th December there were 7,690 security incidents resulting in 365 deaths and 3,296 injuries. It would require disproportionate effort to extract details of property damage from police records for the two periods stated.
§ Sir F. BennettWill my hon. Friend now confirm whether the melancholy trend towards increasing incidents and injuries since the initiative in the spring, as compared with the earlier period, has been reversed and, if not, can he forecast when the initiative will start to bring fruitful results in reducing the number of people injured and killed?
§ Mr. HowellMy hon. Friend used the phrase "melancholy trend", but since Operation Motorman I can confirm that the trend has been definitely downward. All the evidence shows that there is a much lower level of activity involving security forces at this time, and this is encouraging.