§ Mr. Brayasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for the fiscal years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73 and 1973–74, the cost of maintaining military forces within Ulster, together with the cost of all auxiliary supplies, the cost of compensation for damage to life limb and property paid to residents in Ulster, exclusive of industrial compensation, and the cost of the compensation for damage to industrial property.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe costs of maintaining troops within the United Kingdom are not identified on the basis of region and therefore the overall costs to the Exchequer of the military forces stationed in Northern Ireland are not available 541W Additional military costs arising from the emergency in Northern Ireland are recorded separately and were £1.5 million in 1969–70; £6.5 million in 1970–71; £14.3 million in 1971–72; £29 million in 1972–73; and £33 million in 1973–74.
The amounts paid out in compensation for criminal injuries to persons and to property in each of the five financial years were:
Persons Property £ £ 1969–70 … 131,876 1,976,760 1970–71 … 443,474 2,780,604 1971–72 … 724,470 3,966,680 1972–73 … 2,173,524 26,592,312 1973–74 … 3,927,946 27,928,038 Further claims for injuries sustained during the period remain to be settled and their cost will be included in the year of payment.
The greater part of the compensation paid in respect of personal injury and damage to property has been to residents in Ulster. However, the figures cover compensation paid to all categories of person, including members of the Armed Forces, irrespective of technical residence. Separate figures for those resident in Ulster could not be provided without disproportionate cost; nor, similarly, can separate figures be provided to distinguish between the costs of compensation in respect of damage to residential property and industrial property.