HC Deb 19 November 1991 vol 199 cc149-50W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there was a breach of Army security at the military wing of the Musgrove Park hospital on Saturday 2 November; and if he will make a statement on security at hospitals in Northern Ireland for army personnel.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The military wing of Musgrove Park hospital is not a military base but part of a national health service hospital. The terrorists who perpetrated this disgusting attack deliberately chose to carry a bomb through a civilian wing of the hospital and place it adjacent to the military wing. Appropriate security arrangements are taken to protect service personnel but, regrettably, total security cannot be achieved.