HC Deb 28 March 2001 vol 365 c661W
11. Mr. Day

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the decommissioning of illegally held arms and explosives in Northern Ireland. [154349]

13. Mr. Jim Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the decommissioning of illegally held weapons in Northern Ireland. [154351]

17. Mr. David Stewart

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the prospects for removing illegally-held weapons in Northern Ireland. [154355]

19. Mr. Tredinnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the decommissioning of illegally held arms and explosives in Northern Ireland. [154357]

23. Mr. Randall

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many illegally held arms and explosives have been decommissioned in Northern Ireland since 10 April 1998. [154361]

Mr. Ingram

I welcome the report issued by the Decommissioning Commission last week announcing its re-engagement with the IRA and I see this renewed contact as the basis for further progress. Discussion can now move forwards, away from talking about whether decommissioning will happen to how it will happen. It is vital that all the paramilitary groups on ceasefire engage fully and actively with the Commission so that the issue of illegally held arms can be resolved once and for all, and I look forward to early and positive reports from the Decommissioning Commission that progress is being made. I am confident that with the steps the Government are taking to implement all of the outstanding elements of the Belfast Agreement, we are creating the right context for such progress to be made.

20. Mr. Clifton-Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many illegally held arms and explosives have been decommissioned in Northern Ireland since 10 April 1998. [154358]

Mr. Ingram

Since the signing of the Belfast Agreement on 10 April 1998, the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning has reported carrying out one decommissioning event.

Nine weapons were included in the list of items belonging to the Loyalist Volunteer Force that was decommissioned in accordance with Commission procedures on 18 December 1998.

Also included was a quantity of ammunition, five detonators, two pipe bombs, two weapons stocks, and assorted magazines.