HL Deb 22 February 1972 vol 328 cc392-3
LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGH

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government—

(1) What would be the estimated saving in numbers of battalions or equivalent units serving in Northern Ireland (at the current rate of deployment) if the area West of the River Foyle in Londonderry (Creggan and Bogside) and the area in and around Newry were transferred to the Irish Republic in a frontier adjustment; and

(2) What would be the approximate annual savings on unemployment and social service benefits and National Health costs et cetera resulting from such a transfer.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD WINDLESHAM)

My Lords, this information is not available.

LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGH

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that detailed Answer, may I ask him this question? Since it has been announced in the Press that from time to time there have been up to seven battalions in Londonderry and even more in Newry, and as the savings which would be brought about by the transfer of that hostile population elsewhere must be considerable, why cannot Her Majesty's Government do so at once? Secondly, would it not be a good example to those remaining in Northern Ireland if some action like this were taken, so that the people there could see how much better off they were financially than if they were South of the Border?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, it is self-evident, I think, that the Government's policy towards Northern Ireland does not depend primarily on what the Province or any part of it might cost in terms of public payments or military effort.