Decommissioning (Hansard, 12 March 2003)

§ 10. Michael Fabricant
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of the decommissioning of arms held by the IRA. [101448]

§ Jane Kennedy
To date the Provisional IRA has been involved in two acts of decommissioning. The arms and material in question have been dealt with in accordance with the decommissioning scheme and regulations.
However, it is regrettable that PIRA, the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando have all suspended contact with the IICD. I would urge all 311W paramilitary organisations to re-engage with the Commission, as it is imperative that both republican and loyalist organisations complete the transition to exclusively peaceful means, real, total and permanent.

§ 11. Mr. Andrew Turner
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the extent of verifiable decommissioning of unlawfully held weaponry. [101449]

§ Jane Kennedy
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Sir Nicholas Winterton).

§ 14. Mr. Robathan
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the state of IRA decommissioning. [101452]

§ Jane Kennedy
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant).

§ Sir Nicholas Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the quantities of illegally held(a) weapons and (b) explosives that have been decommissioned under the Good Friday Agreement. [101447]

§ Jane Kennedy
On 18 December 1998 the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning reported that a quantity of arms belonging to the LVF were decommissioned.
On 23 October 2001 they reported that they had witnessed an event that they regarded as significant in which the Provisional IRA had put a quantity of arms completely beyond use. The material included arms, ammunition and explosives.
On 8 April 2002 the IICD reported the Provisional IRA had put a varied and substantial quantity of ammunition, arms and explosive rnaterial beyond use. An inventory of the arms will be provided to the British and Irish Governments when the Commission's task is completed.
The arms and material in question have been dealt with in accordance with the decommissioning scheme and regulations. It is imperative that both republican and loyalist organisations complete the transition to exclusively peaceful means, real, total and permanent.