§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attacks on RUC personnel took place in 1989, showing whether the attack was on (i) a foot patrol and (ii) a mobile patrol, the total attacked while on duty each month together with details of the type of attack, namely(a) physical assault, (b) stone throwing, (c) petrol bomb, (d) explosion or (e) shooting and the number of persons made amenable.
§ Mr. Cope[holding answer 4 July 1990]: The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, in 1989 there were over 500 incidents in which the police were attacked either on duty or at home. Of these, 67 incidents involved the use of firearms and 83 the use of explosives.