§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list each of the normalisation measures taken in Northern Ireland since 1 April 1998. [150297]
§ Mr. IngramThe information is in the table 79W
Date Base demolition/closure 26 February 1999 Demolition of Letterkenny PVCP, Londonderry April 1998 to April 1999 Withdrawal of troops from RUC Stations: Corry Square, Warrenpoint, Castlederg, Carrickmore, Kesh, Rosemount, Andersonstown, Springfield Road 21 May 1999 Demolition of Fort Whitrock, Belfast 4 August 1999 Demolition of Gortmullan PB, Fermanagh 5 September 1999 Closure of Carrickfergus Royal Irish Base 31 December 1999 Closure of Castlereagh Holding Centre May 2000 Withdrawal of troops from RUC Pomeroy 16 June 2000 Templar House Op, Belfast closed and handed back 21 June 2000 Broadway Op, Belfast closed and handed back 4 August 2000 Demolition of Boruchi Sangar, Crossmaglen 1 October 2000 Closure of Strand Road Holding Centre 8 October 2000 Demolition of R16 Base, Cloghoge, Newry completed 8 November 2000 Cookstown Royal Irish Base closed and demolished 8 November 2000 Demolition work at Fort George, Londonderry complete. Site to be handed over to the Harbour Commissioners 27 November 2000 Long Kesh vacated and handed over to contractors for demolition 12 January 2001 Demolition of Killyvilly PB completed 17 January 2001 Demolition of Wattle Bridge PB completed 19 January 2001 Demolition of Rosscor Bridge PB completed Other normalisation measures include the return to Land Command of two roulement battalions. Three of the remaining four roulement battalions are now rear-based in GB with elements called to Northern Ireland as and when required.
When the Good Friday agreement was signed there were 18 battalions under the command of the GOC (NI). There are now 15 battalions (six resident battalions, four roulement battalions, and five home service battalions of the Royal Irish).
Also, since the Good Friday agreement, the security forces have been able to return areas of previously requisitioned land to their original owners.
In addition, the police are making increased use of soft-skinned and high-profiled liveried vehicles and beat patrols. Police officers increasingly wear fluorescent jackets and now patrol without Army support in most parts of the Province.