§ 50. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Prime Minister whether British troops have been offered to the Northern Government to repel organised raids on the part of the Irish Republican Army; and whether adequate military forces are available in Ulster in the event of a massed attack being made upon the Ulster border, in view of a report issued by the commandant-general of the First Northern Division, Irish Republican Army, with regard to the recent fighting at Newtown-cunningham, in which he stated that a party of his flying column had been attacked while resting at Newtowncunningham, to which they had returned from active service in the six-county area?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN (Leader of the House)No British troops have been offered to the Government of Northern Ireland for any specific purpose such as that suggested in the question, but, as the House is aware, British troops are stationed within the area of that Government and are available for use in aid of the civil power if their aid is asked for. In reply to the second part of the question, His Majesty's Government has no reason to suppose that the number of troops so available is inadequate, but should the Northern Government at any time make representations in the matter, those representations will, of course, be very carefully considered.