Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many firearms, of what makes, types and calibres, have been identified as having been used against the security forces and in other acts of terrorism, in each year since 1968; how many, and of what make, type and calibre, have been captured by the security forces in the same years; and of those captured how many were identified in each category.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe following are the numbers of illegally held weapons which have been recovered by the security forces in Northern Ireland since 1970.
in total was paid to the 40 children under 5 years of age who during 1975 were awarded compensation under the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) (N.I.) Act 1968 for mental or nervous shock.
§ Mr. ConcannonFollowing awards made by the county court, £19,525 was paid in these cases.
§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much was paid to each of the four children under 2 years of age who, during 1975, were awarded compensation under the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) (N.I.) Act 1968 for mental or nervous shock; and how the degree of injury was assessed;
(2) in what incidents the four children under 2 years of age, who were awarded compensation during 1975 for mental or nervous shock, were injured; and what were their precise ages at the time of the incidents.
§ Mr. ConcannonThe claims submitted on behalf of the four children under 2 years of age who were awarded compensation by the county court for mental or nervous shock under the Criminal 387W Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 during 1975 arose out of incidents involving explosions at: Drumarg Park, Armagh on 15th October 1972; Main Street, Glenavy on 7th July 1973; Edward Street, Newry on 13th May 1974; Obins Street, Portadown on 22nd October 1974.
The children were aged 6 months, 7 months, 18 months and 10 months respectively at the date of the incidents and the county court awarded them £100, £100, £500 and £500 respectively in compensation. The degree of injury in each case was assessed by the court on the basis of the medical evidence submitted on behalf of the claimant.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average waiting time for the settlement of claims for compensation in death cases and injuries cases, respectively.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 21st May 1976; Vol. 911, c. 744], gave the following information:
A survey of the 4,170 cases finalised in 1975 shows that in 149 death cases there was an average waiting time of 89.1 weeks and in 4,021 injuries cases there was an average waiting time of 73 weeks. In a statutory scheme settlement involves the prior completion of legally obligatory processes outside executive control, including actions by the claimant and his legal representatives, the production of medical and police evidence, and the time required to obtain a listing for hearing by the court.