§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of British Army surveillance towers in Northern Ireland in September 1994 and September 1997; how may of these are on civilian property; what plans exist to withdraw some of these from use in the next six months; and if he will estimate the total annual cost of staffing and maintaining such installations in the past 12 months. [13058]
§ Dr. ReidIn September 1994 there were surveillance towers at 10 hilltop sites in the South Armagh areas, two towers in Londonderry and three surveillance posts mounted on blocks of flats within Belfast. In September 1997 there were the same number of sites in South Armagh and Belfast, but only one in Londonderry, the other having been closed in 1995. In addition to surveillance towers, the security forces maintain a number of other structures which are used for a variety of observation purposes.
All the sites are on land either leased or requisitioned from civilians, civilian organisations or other Government agencies.
The security situation is kept under constant review and the configuration of the military infrastructure adjusted accordingly. However, there are no plans to withdraw any of the towers from use over the next six months.
The annual costs of staffing and maintaining these installations are not held centrally and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.