§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain from the Northern Ireland Government, and publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT, the numbers of persons who are currently held under the Internment Act in Northern Ireland, and who are serving prison sentences for acts of terrorism including shooting, possession of firearms and explosives.
§ Mr. SharplesThe following information has been provided by the Government of Northern Ireland:—
The number of persons held at present under Regulations 10, 11 and 12 of the Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Act, (Northern Ireland) 1971, are as follows:
Regulation 10 (i.e. persons held for questioning) 78 Regulation 11 (persons held in detention) 144 Regulation 12 (persons held in internment) 317 Total 539 The total number of persons at present in Northern Ireland prisons convicted of, or charged with acts of terrorism varying from riotous behaviour to murder is 377, of whom about 100 are on remand.
The numbers of persons convicted of the more serious offences are as follows:
Murder 3 Possession of firearms 31 Possession of explosive substances 72 Possession of petrol bombs 27 Arson 12 145
§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will obtain from the 468W Northern Ireland Government, and publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT, their estimate of the damage to property caused by terrorist activities in Northern Ireland since August, 1969; and how many people have been put out of work by these activities.
§ Mr. SharplesThe following information has been provided by the Government of Northern Ireland:
The amounts paid by the Northern Ireland Ministry of Home Affairs to local authorities in respect of malicious damage to property are as follows:
£ Year ended 31st March, 1970 1,638,220 Year ended 31st March, 1971 2,753,662 1st April, 1971 to 31st October, 1971 1,451,251 Total 5,843,133 To date, approximately 18,000 claims have been lodged with the courts in Northern Ireland in respect of property damage. The total sum paid out as shown above represents settlement of approximately 6,500 claims. On this basis, it is estimated that the cost of meeting the outstanding claims as at this date is likely to be about £10 million.
The Northern Ireland Ministry of Commerce states that as a result of bomb damage five firms employing a total of 289 persons have ceased production and are unlikely to resume business. A further nine firms employing a total of 294 persons are at present out of production but are planning to start again.
In addition a number of other firms have suffered interruptions to production. It is impossible to quantify how much unemployment of a short or long term has resulted from these temporary closures.
§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will obtain from the Northern Ireland Government, and publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT, the figures of killings and woundings of men, women and children in Northern Ireland as a result or terrorist activities since August, 1969.
§ Mr. SharplesThe following information has been provided by the Government of Northern Ireland:
The total number of deaths directly attributable to the disorders in Northern 469W Ireland from 1st August, 1969, to 24th November, 1971, is 160.
This is made up as follows:
Men 144 Women 9 Children under 16 years 7 Since 27th June, 1970. 1,632 persons have received treatment in hospitals and been sent home. A further 816 have been admitted and treated in hospital for more than 24 hours.
The number of persons treated at hospitals for injuries attributable to civil disorders during the period 5th October, 1968, to 26th June, 1970, was approximately 1,685.