HC Deb 22 December 1988 vol 144 c451W
Ms. Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a breakdown of those people arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for each year since 1974(a) at ports, (b) at airports, (c) in their homes and (d) in other places; and if he will provide a breakdown of these figures between men and women detainees.

Mr. Ian Stewart

[holding answer 8 December 1988]: Available information is as follows:

Year Firearms recovered1 Explosives recovered1 (tons) Occupied houses searched2
1974 1,236 11.7 19,576
1975 820 4.9 3,907
1976 736 9.7 10,749
1977 563 1.7 9,264
1978 393 0.9 6,309
1979 300 0.9 4,740
1980 203 0.8 2,960
1981 357 3.4 2,420
1982 288 2.3 2,979
1983 166 1.7 693
1984 187 3.8 769
1985 173 3.3 446
1986 174 2.4 689
1987 206 5.8 790
19883 431 3.4 2,281
1 These amounts refer to total amounts of munitions recovered not just finds during searches of occupied houses.
2 House searches are primarily carried out under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts Legislation.
3 To 31 October.