§ The following Question stood on the Paper in the name of Mr. DEVLIN:
§ 54. To ask the Chief Secretary whether he is now in a position to make a statement with reference to the raid in Ballymena carried out by the Ulster special constables on Friday, 17th June; whether the houses of a number of Catholics in the town were raided, the system being to place in each house at about 4 o'clock, a.m., two or three special constables who, in most cases, separated the men and women into different rooms and kept them there until an officer arrived to carry out a search, which meant that in many cases people were kept in this position from 4 o'clock until 9 or 10 o'clock; whether in most cases 1974 the special constables adopted a very aggressive and provocative attitude; whether in the case of one leading merchant the officer in charge took the keys from the assistant manager at his residence and, accompanied by two special constables, entered the business premises, which contained valuable goods and securities, and remained there for a half-hoar without informing the owner that any raid was intended, and unaccompanied by any representative of the owner; whether in the case of a hotel in the town special constables who were not under the control of an officer burst in the door, went through the hotel holding up everyone at the point of the revolver, and entered the room of an old lady about 80 years of age, a confirmed invalid, and ordered her to get out of bed; whether he can state who was responsible for this raid and for what purpose it was carried out; why was the raid directed against Catholics alone, as was evident from the questions asked some of the residents; whether the instructions issued by the Government are that the district inspector of the Royal Irish Constabulary, as executive officer for the district, should be consulted prior to such raids; whether the district inspector in Ballymena was consulted about this raid; whether there has been a clear breach of discipline: and whether he will cause a full and searching inquiry to be made into the matter with a view to ascertaining who were the parties responsible for this attack on the liberties and rights of the Catholic population of Ballymena?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEOn a point of Order. With reference to question No. 54 in the name of the hon. Member for the Falls Division (Mr. Devlin), may I point out that it is something like 400 words in length, and, in view of the fact that questions are cut down to three per Member, could not some rule be made that questions should not exceed 200 words?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is legitimately one question. It all refers to a single incident, and the fact that it is rather detailed may make it easier to obtain a full answer.
§ Sir H. GREENWOOD, in reply to the Question on the Paper: I regret that, owing to a temporary breakdown of communication with Belfast, I have not yet received a report on this case. Perhaps 1975 the hon. Member will repeat the question on Thursday?
§ Mr. DEVLINMay I ask whether this question was not put down on Thursday last, and whether I was not asked to postpone it until to-day? What is the meaning of such long delay in securing a reply to a question of such an important character?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI will tell the hon. Member. The report of the case is being sent in answer to this question. Owing to a temporary breakdown in the communications, it has not reached me. Therefore I cannot give the answer, which is already on the way.
§ Mr. DEVLINDoes the right hon. Gentleman assert, in view of the fact that we have a Parliament in Ulster, that it takes four days to send a communication from Belfast to London?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI do not.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs that one of the first fruits of the Ulster Parliament?