§ 12. Mr. McMasterasked the Minister of State for Defence how many soldiers have been killed and injured in Northern Ireland since 1st January; and how many arrests, by the security forces, have been made in relation thereto.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourIn the period 1st January to 31st March, three soldiers were killed and 36 received injuries requiring hospital treatment as a result of security operations in Northern Ireland, In addition three soldiers were murdered. In the same period over 300 people were arrested by the Army for riotous or disorderly behaviour of whom over 130 have received prison sentences.
§ 16. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on operations in aid of the civil power in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourI have nothing to add to the statement made by my hon. and noble friend the Minister of State for Defence in the debate on Northern Ireland on Tuesday, 6th April.—[Vol. 815, c. 369–70.]
§ 21. Mr. McMasterasked the Minister of State for Defence how many searches for arms have been carried out in Northern Ireland by Her Majesty's forces since 1st January; how many arms and how much ammunition has been discovered; and what proportion was found on the premises of organisations known to profess republican beliefs.
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§ Mr. Ian GilmourSince 1st January the armed services, often in conjunction with the R.U.C. have carried out searches of 381 occupied houses, 1,589 unoccupied buildings and 862 areas of countryside, quarries, etc., 124,234 cars and other vehicles have been stopped and checked. The amount of arms and ammunition found by the armed services alone is 54 guns and 13,654 rounds of ammunition. The political beliefs of those whose premises contain arms are not investigated by the Army.