§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate as to how much explosive was used by terrorist organisations in each of the present Royal Ulster Constabulary divisions and former Royal Ulster Constabulary counties in each month and quarter since 1 January 1969; how much (a) was defused and (b) exploded; of the amounts used in each period in 36W each area, how much is believed to be the work of the republican terrorist organisations; and, if full information is not available, if he will publish as much as can be supplied.
§ Mr. PriorInformation in the form requested could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. However, the estimated amounts of explosives used in explosions and the amounts neutralised in each year since 1970 to 30 June 1982 are as follows:
Year Weight of explosives (kgs) Explosions* Neutralised 1970 331 27 1971 4,977 1,361 1972 21,529 9,062 1973 21,533 14,719 1974 21,063 12,290 1975 6,238 5,062 1976 7,981 7,372 1977 1,274 992 1978 2,424 2,658 1979 5,087 2,055 1980 4,109 2,905 1981 4,364 4,159 †l982 4,230 1,966 * Estimated. † To 30 June.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) for each month and quarter since 1 January 1969 to the latest available date; how many culvert and similar bombs (a) exploded and (b) were defused in Northern Ireland; how much explosive was involved in each period; how much of that explosive is believed to have been commercial and how much mixtures made up by terrorist organisations; how many and what quantities in each month were believed to be the work of Republican terrorist organisations; and, if full information is not available, if he will publish as much as can be supplied;
(2) for each month and quarter since 1 January 1969 to the latest available date, how many bombs other than car bombs and culvert and similar bombs (a) exploded and (b) were defused; how much explosive was involved in each period; how much of that explosive is believed to have been commercial and how much mixtures made up by terrorist organisations; in each case how many bombs and how many of each type of explosive were the work of Republican terrorist organisations; and, if full information is not available, if he will publish so much of this information as is available;
(3) for each month and quarter since 1 January 1969 to the latest available date, how many car bombs (a) exploded and (b) were defused in Northern Ireland; how much explosive was involved in each period; how much of that explosive is believed to have been commercial and how much mixtures made up by terrorist organisations; how much explosive and bombs are believed to be the work of Republican organisations; and if full information is not available, if he will publish as much as possible.
§ Mr. PriorI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Gentleman for Belfast, East (Mr. Robinson) on 8 July. I regret that further information in the form requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.—[Vol. 27, c.193–94.]