§ 23. Mr. MolyneauxTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. BrookeI regret to report that since I last answered a similar question on 12 December there have been 20 deaths as a result of terrorist violence in Northern Ireland. All the dead were civilians.
The Government will remain steadfast in its commitment to bring terrorism to an end. The security forces will continue to pursue terrorists and bring them to justice. Last year, some 400 persons were charged with terrorist related offences, including some 120 with murder or attempted murder.