§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many terrorists have been apprehended and how large a quantity of arms and ammunition has been seized as a result of the improved cross-border co-operation on security achieved since May 1979.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsSince May 1979, 1,435 people have been convicted on indictment of terrorist-type offences in Northern Ireland. In the same period 583 firearms, 88,846 rounds of ammunition and 5,904 lb of explosive have been found. It is not possible to say with any precision how many of these convictions or finds can be attributed to the undoubted improvement in co-operation with the Republic of Ireland, but this is certainly an important factor in the continuing counter-terrorist successes of the law enforcement authorities on both sides of the border. Important finds and arrests have also been made during this period by the authorities in the Republic of Ireland.