§ Mr. Maginnisasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the component elements for home-made explosives recovered in Ulster can be traced back to the Irish Republic; and if he will define this in terms of weight.
§ Mr. Hurd[pursuant to his reply,3 June 1985, c. 85]: The nature of the components used in improvised explosives makes it impossible to distinguish accurately their source. The agricultural fertiliser on which home-made explosives are based is widely used in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.