Explosive Ordnance Disposal in Northern Ireland is provided by the armed forces to the Police Service of Northern Ireland in support of the UK Government's aim to reduce the risk from terrorism.

I meet regularly with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to discuss various issues related to terrorism in Northern Ireland. These discussions include the deployment of Ammunition Technical Officers.

Response times to bomb incidents in Northern Ireland are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However the Explosive Ordnance Device teams in Northern Ireland have responded with great professionalism over the years to all requests for assistance. We will continue to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland in the most operationally effective way using the defence and police estate as necessary.

The number of incidents to which Ammunition Technical Officers were called in Northern Ireland is shown in the following table. The figures represent the total number of times officers were called out and are rounded to the nearest 10.

I am withholding the numbers of Ammunition Technical Officers deployed in Northern Ireland as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.