§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times losses of detonators were reported (a) from 1965 to 1969 and (b) from 1971 to 1976; and what were the losses in each case.
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§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI regret that the details for 1965 to 1968 are not available. The figures for 1969 to 1976 are as follows:
Number of thefts Number of detonators involved Detonators later recovered Loss outstanding 1969 … 19 3,260 —* — 1970 … 16 2,419 —* — 1971 … 15 3,431 1,580 1,851 1972 … 11 2,087 400 1,687 1973 … 7 1,326 89 1,237 1974 … 3 219 — 219 1975 … 6 197 108 89 1976 … 10 437 275 162 * Information about the recovery of detonators in 1969 and 1970 is not available.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged with the illegal possession of detonators in Great Britain since 1973; how many of those so charged were convicted; and what were the sentences.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThis offence is defined in various Acts. It is not the practice to record centrally the offences under the individual subsections of all these Acts, and I regret, therefore, that the information is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of introducing a marking system for detonators manufactured by ICI Ltd. at its Ardeer factory, which would show whether the detonators were intended for use in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, or elsewhere.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he remains satisfied with the mandatory accounting procedures for the transfer of detonators from one organisation to another.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe security of explosives, including detonators, is kept under review. I am considering whether it is necessary to introduce further controls by regulation under the Health and Safety at Work, etc., Act 1974.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he 228W will now introduce a statutory requirement to report losses of detonators.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThere are arrangements under which losses are reported to the police and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Explosives. I am considering whether these arrangements, which are working satisfactorily, can with advantage, be made statutory by regulation under the Health and Safety at Work, etc., Act 1974.