§ Mr. Maginnisasked the Minister of State for Defence whether the official 363W Irish Republican Army mobile patrol has yet been observed by the Army in Belfast.
§ Mr. Maginnisasked the Minister of Defence if he will give details of an explosion which occurred at Thomas Street, Portadown, County Armagh, on Sunday, 14th May, 1972; what was the amount of gelignite used; what is the estimate of damage caused to property; and why there was not a full evacuation of the area.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithAt about 11.30 p.m. an explosion occurred in a van which had been left in Thomas Street, Portadown. An anonymous telephone call had given 10 minutes' warning and security forces had evacuated the area as fully as possible in the limited time available. Army ammunition technical officers estimated that the bomb had contained about 50 lb. of explosive. It caused no casualties but it caused structural damage to two shops and it caused less extensive damage to about 70 other premises.
§ Mr. Maginnisasked the Minister of State for Defence, how many D-notices have been issued in Northern Ireland since 24th March, 1972.
§ Lord BalnielNone.