§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many persons were detained under Emergency Provisions (Northern Ireland) Acts 1973 and 1978 in the first six months of the current year;
(2) how many persons were detained under the Emergency Provisions (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 and of those persons, how many were charged with scheduled offences and how many were charged with non-scheduled offences, in the first six months of the current year.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1986]: In the first six months of this year there were 494 arrests by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and 22 by members of the armed forces under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978. Some of those arrested by members of the armed forces would be recorded in the Royal Ulster Constabulary figures if they were subsequently handed over to the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Information regarding charges is not yet available and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.