Ballistic Testing

Mr. Wm. Ross
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland hoy many firearms have been fired for routine ballistic tests in Northern Ireland in each year to date in total since the practice began; what purpose is served by these tests; and whether any weapons so tested have been later identified as being used in crimes committed by terrorists as a result of the earlier routine tests.

Mr. Alison
The number of firearms fired during ballistic tests since 1973, when the practice was introduced, for each year is as follows: ----------------------------
|1973                      |
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|1974                      |
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|1975                      |
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|1976                      |
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|1977                      |
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|1978                      |
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|1979                      |
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|1980 (up to 26 March 1980)|
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|                          |
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As a result of these tests, it can be established if legally held guns have been used in terrorist activities or, in the event of a firearm having been stolen, whether or not it has subsequently been used in a shooting incident. The knowledge that tests are  carried out acts as a deterrent to the misuse of these weapons.There has been a number of cases in which weapons which have been subjected to routine ballistic testing have later been identified as having been used in the commission of terrorist crimes. To give an exact figure for the number so identified could be achieved only at disproportionate expense.