§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many terrorist attacks and incidents took place in the United Kingdom between 1971 and 1974; how many people were killed and injured; what was the value of property damaged or destroyed in each attack; and what were the comparable statistics between 2001 and 2004.[HL661]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe period 1971–74 saw the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland. The police, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, have always considered acts of terrorism, ranging from bombings and shootings, down to intimidation and assault, as criminal acts and record150WA them as such. Given the potentially wide definition that could be applied to "terrorist attacks and incidents" it is impossible to ascertain how many there were in the UK.
Similarly, although individual insurance companies and other financial institutions may hold information about the cost to business and infrastructure from specific major attacks such as at Bishopsgate, the Home Office does not. It is not possible to separate out smaller criminal incidents involving terrorists from those caused by other criminals.