§ Mr. Powellasked the Attorney-General how many prosecutions for failure to observe the law governing the acquisition, use and disposal of detonators have been brought in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe law relating to the unlawful acquisition, use and disposal of Explosive Substances, including detonators, is governed by the Explosives Acts (Northern Ireland) 1875 to 1970 and the Explosive Substances Act 1883. Figures are available in relation to prosecutions under those Acts covering the period 1st January 1973 to 28th February 1977, but it is not possible, without disproportionate expense, to ascertain how many of these prosecutions involved the acquisition, use and disposal of detonators as opposed to other forms of Explosive Substances.
Directions to prosecute for offences contrary to the provisions of these Acts during the period in question were as follows:
692W
The Explosives Acts (Northern Ireland) 1875–1970 1973 11 1974 1 1975 2 1976 2 1977 Nil Total 16
The Explosive Substances Act 1883 1973 223 1974 170 1975 115 1976 182 1977 23 Total 713