HC Deb 17 December 1997 vol 303 cc183-4W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what(a) number and (b) type of RUC issue weapons and of what description have been lost, stolen or otherwise unaccounted for in each of the past 10 years; how many of these weapons are believed to have fallen into the hands of (a) Republican and (b) Loyalist paramilitaries; and how many have been recovered subsequently. [19497]

Mr. Ingram

[holding answer 10 December 1997]The information requested for the period 1 January 1988 to 4 December 1997 is set out in the tables. All of the weapons referred to are handguns with the exception of one rifle stolen in 1988 but which was subsequently recovered.

Year Stolen Recovered Not recovered
1988 9 8 1
1989 13 11 2
1990 13 12 1
1991 14 13 1
1992 3 3 0
1993 5 3 2
1994 14 9 5
1995 6 2 4
1996 6 2 4
1997 2 1 1
Total 85 64 21

Year Stolen Loyalist Republican Other1
1988 9 3 3 3
1989 13 1 4 8
1990 13 3 1 9
1991 14 3 2 9
1992 3 1 0 2
1993 5 2 0 3
1994 14 2 0 12
1995 6 0 0 6
1996 6 0 0 6
1997 2 0 0 2
Total 85 15 10 60
1 Other—Non-Terrorist/Criminal/Not Known.