§ Rev. William McCreaTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the principle that governs the payment of bonuses or bounties to members of the security forces; from what fund bounties or bonuses are paid to the security forces; and who determines the circumstances in which bonuses are paid to members of the security forces;
(2) how many bonuses have been paid to troops in the Province for reported sightings of (a) republican terrorist suspects and (b) loyalist terrorist suspects.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe only bounties or bonuses payable from public funds to soldiers in Northern Ireland are those relating to such matters as completion of periods of service or, in the case of the Royal Irish Regiment, home service part time, completion of annual attendance and training requirements. The authority for such payments is contained in the pay warrant and supporting regulations.
No payments have been made from public funds to soldiers in Northern Ireland for sightings of suspected terrorists. Local initiatives to make such incentive payments from non-public funds during the first quarter of 1993 have been terminated. There was only one award for a reported sighting, of a suspected "loyalist" terrorist.