§ 14. Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment her Department has made of the amount of arms and explosives which terrorist organisations currently hold; and if she will make a statement. [12420]
§ Mr. IngramThe security forces maintain information about terrorist weaponry but it would not be appropriate for me to make this public. Terrorists retain sufficient arms and explosives to mount a sustained campaign of violence and bombing. There is no justification for this. The Government, together with the Government of the Republic of Ireland, have put in place the mechanisms for decommissioning and, though it is necessarily a voluntary process, those in possession of paramilitary weapons need to avail themselves of this unique opportunity to build confidence and contribute to lasting peace.