HC Deb 23 June 2003 vol 407 cc608-9W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the state of decommissioning is in the Province. [118506]

Jane Kennedy

To date there have been three acts of decommissioning carried out by paramilitary organisations, one by the Loyalist Volunteer Force and two by the Provisional IRA. In 2002 the three major paramilitary groups (UVF, UDA and Provisional IRA) broke off contact with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. However, in 2003 the Provisional IRA resumed contact and the Loyalist Commission, along with the UDA representative, met the IICD.

However, the Prime Minister stated clearly in his speech on 1 May 2003 that an undertaking is needed that all arms will be put beyond use through the IICD.