§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Down, North (Mr. Kilfedder) Official Report, 25 April, column 271, he will state the reasons of security which prevent him from disclosing the details about the country of manufacture of weapons seized from the Irish Republican Army.
§ Mr. AlisonBritish authorities are cooperating with their counterparts in other countries to cut off illegal supplies of arms, ammunition and explosives for use by terrorists and to bring to justice those who supply them. To disclose details of the country of manufacture would not only be undesirable in the context of investigations currently in hand but would also be misleading. It can be said, however, that the country of manufacture is not necessarily that from which the weapons are obtained by the terrorists.