§ 11. Mr. ConnartyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards establishing a more normal security situation in Northern Ireland. [103423]
§ Mr. IngramSince the Good Friday Agreement, routine military patrolling has been reduced by two thirds. Three battalions have returned to Great Britain. There are now under 15,000 service personnel on operational duties in Northern Ireland, fewer than at any time since 1970. Eleven military bases have been demolished and a further seven installations have been closed.
Further steps the Government intend to take towards normalising security are set out in the recently published security strategy paper. Copies have been placed in the Library of this House.