HC Deb 08 November 2000 vol 356 cc257-8W
12. Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about progress on decommissioning terrorist weapons. [135608]

15. Judy Mallaber

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the prospects for removing illegally-held weapons from Northern Ireland. [135611]

Mr. Ingram

Mr. Ramaphosa and Mr. Ahtisaari have reported that they have completed their second inspection of several IRA arms dumps. We welcome this development—it represents further progress and an honouring of commitments given at the beginning of May. I am confident the inspectors will report any further progress that has been made when they deem it appropriate to do so.

Further progress still needs to be made by both Republican and Loyalist paramilitaries to meet their commitments to being a lasting peace to Northern Ireland.

We would call upon the IRA to re-engage with the Commission to show that further progress will be made as promised in its statement in May.

18. Mr. Savidge

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met General John de Chastelain to discuss the decommissioning of paramilitary arms. [135614]

Mr. Ingram

Under the Good Friday Agreement the Decommissioning Commission operates as an independent body to resolve the decommissioning issue. The Commission has provided written reports on progress on a number of occasions.

I met General de Chastelain on Tuesday 24 October.