HC Deb 09 May 2001 vol 368 cc159-60W
7. Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland. [159622]

11. Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland. [159626]

Mr. Ingram

The Government believe on balance that the main cease fires are holding. There remains however, a threat from republican dissidents who are opposed to the Good Friday Agreement as evidenced by recent attacks on the railway network in Northern Ireland and the discovery of a Mark 15 barrack buster bomb near Omagh. The security forces are conscious of the threat posed by these groups, and continue to take steps to thwart their attacks.

15 Mr. Brazier

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the requirement for police service and Army force levels in the present security situation. [159630]

Mr. Ingram

Operational security measures are a matter for the Chief Constable and he keeps security at a level appropriate to his assessment of the prevailing threat. As the level of threat changes, this will be reflected in changes to the security force profile.

Mr. Colman

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further steps he is taking to create a normal security environment in Northern Ireland. [159632]

Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further steps he is taking to create a normal security environment in Northern Ireland. [159641]

Mr. Ingram

The Chief Constable recently announced a number of further normalisation measures including the demolition of the six Fermanagh patrol bases, the closure and demolition of Long Kesh army base and the closure of Strand Road Holding Centre. In the longer term, the number of army bases will reduce to no more than 20. Currently the police routinely patrol without military assistance in 28 of the 29 District Command Units. However, on a number of occasions military support has been utilised for specific purposes. Further measures will very much depend on the removal of the threat from dissident republicans and continued progress towards a normal civil society.