§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what quantity of explosives or explosive devices have been confiscated or impounded by Customs or security authorities at ports or airports in the United Kingdom for each of the last four years.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsAccording to information provided to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, 31 sticks of explosives were found at ports in Great Britain in 1973 and l½ lb. in 1974. This was material likely to be of use to terrorists. The Customs and Excise have also seized small quantities of explosive materials from private individuals in each of the last four years; in general this was not the sort of material likely to be of use to terrorists.
Controls at ports in Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.