§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the IRA and the UDA, respectively, have been detained or charged with offences during the past two years in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. David HowellSince August 1971, when internment was introduced, a total of 1,391 people have been detained, either under the former provisions of the Special Powers Act or under the Detention of Terrorists Order. Three hundred and nineteen are currently detained, of whom 98 are held under interim custody orders and 221 have been detained by the commissioners. Seven are detained on the grounds that they are suspected of being involved in Protestant terrorist activities, the remainder because they are suspected of being involved in IRA terrorist activity.
Figures are not readily available to show how many members of the IRA and UDA have been charged with offences. Membership of the IRA or UDA is not necessarily part of the evidence submitted in the proceedings.