§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what readily available statistics he has for major offences involving possession of explosives over the last 10 years.
EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES ACT 1883 Sections 2 and 3 Causing, and possessing explosives, to cause, dangerous explosion Sections 4 and 5 Illegal possession of explosives and accessory to crime Number of cases known to police Number of cases cleared up Number of persons proceeded against Number of cases known to police Number of cases cleared up Number of persons proceeded against 1966 … … 3 2 1 14 13 16 1967 … … 4 3 — 12 13 7 1968 … … 2 3 1 3 4 4 1969 … … 1 1 5 1 2 — 1970 … … 4 1 1 3 1 2 1971 … … — 2 1 6 6 1 1972* … … 8 6 4 12 12 10 * The 1972 figures are provisional.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what investigation he is conducting as to the passage of explosives between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThe enforcement of the law on this matter is primarily for the police, who have been successful recently in detecting contraventions.