§ 21. Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on his consultations with the Secretary of State for the Home Department as to the danger to the security of Northern Ireland in having British Army uniforms manufactured in the Republic of Ireland.
§ Mr. ProfumoI have consulted my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, and we are both satisfied that there is no real danger to the security of Northern Ireland in having British Army battledress manufactured in the Republic of Ireland.
§ Mr. Stratton MillsIn view of the fact that, during the past ten years, last year was the only occasion when any of these uniforms were manufactured in the Republic of Ireland, as revealed by my right hon. Friend in a Written Answer, may I ask whether there has been a change of policy?
§ Mr. ProfumoNo, Sir. It is only because we could not obtain satisfactory terms for battledress manufactured in the United Kingdom as a whole that we have been forced to go to the Republic of Ireland. Concerning future contracts, if we can get firms in the United Kingdom and, of course, in Northern Ireland, to manufacture uniforms, we shall give them preference. We go abroad only when we cannot get what we need from firms in the United Kingdom.