§ 25. Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of firearms currently illegally held by terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland.
§ Sir John WheelerTerrorist organisations have access to a considerable quantity of weapons and equipment of various types; however, it would not, on security grounds, be appropriate to provide detailed estimates. The Government continue to regard substantial progress on the question of decommissioning paramilitary arms as a vital element in advancing the political process in Northern Ireland.