HC Deb 23 March 2004 vol 419 cc759-60W
Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the terrorist(a) actions, (b) beatings and (c) abductions in Northern Ireland since 1 January; and to which terrorist group the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has attributed responsibility in each case. [161342]

Jane Kennedy

The following table provides details of paramilitary activity since 1 January this year attributed to Loyalist and Republican groups. It is not possible to give an accurate assessment of the number of abductions as often victims of such crime do not co-operate with the police. The Chief Constable has stated publicly that he believes persons connected with the Provisional IRA were involved in the abduction of a male in Belfast earlier this month.

Security Situation Statistics for Northern Ireland 1 January—29 February 2004
Perceived Attribution1
By Loyalist By Republican
Number of deaths2
Number of shooting incidents3 22 15
Number of bombing incidents4 2 3
Casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults 13 10
Casualties as a result of paramilitary shootings 22 11
1 Attribution is as perceived by the PSNI based on the information available
2 Includes all deaths due to the security situation
3 The following types of incidents are included: Shots fired by terrorists Paramilitary-style attacks involving shootings Shots heard (and later confirmed) Other violent incidents where shots are fired (eg armed robbery)
4 An individual bombing incident may involve one or more explosive devices. Incidents recorded include explosions and defusings. Incidents involving hoax devices, petrol bombings or incendaries are excluded.

Statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.

Mr. Swire

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people there are on the mainland UK exiled from Northern Ireland because of threats from terrorist organisations; and what the cost is to public funds in 2003–04 of such people. [155648]

Angela Smith

There are no official figures on the number of people exiled from Northern Ireland as a result of paramilitary intimidation as not all incidents are reported. The needs of exiles are examined in detail in the Legacy Report, an independent needs analysis of victims of the Troubles living in Great Britain. One of the major contributors to this research was Maranatha, a Christian community that has considerable experience in this area. Maranatha estimates that around four people per month are exiled from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.

Assistance to exiles is provided across a number of agencies both statutory and voluntary. However, in the absence of official figures, it is not possible to quantify the cost to public funds.