HC Deb 27 April 1972 vol 835 cc1740-2
3. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a further statement about his consideration of the activities of the Irish Republican Army in Great Britain.

19. Mr. Selwyn Gummer

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of his consideration of ways of combating the activities of both wings of the Irish Republican Army within Great Britain.

29. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a further statement about the activities of the Irish Republican Army in Great Britain.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Reginald Maudling)

Appropriate steps will continue to be taken, but I have at present no proposals for legislation in this connection.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Now that we have direct rule over Northern Ireland, may we not find ourselves in more direct confrontation with the IRA in this island, and will my right hon. Friend assure me that, if more powers are required, he will come at once to this House and obtain them? Is he satisfied that the Public Order Act is being applied in full when persons appearing to be in IRA uniform have been marching in the streets of London?

Mr. Maudling

If I thought that further powers were desirable I would come to the House and ask for them. The police are very efficient indeed and at the moment have all the powers they need. The enforcement of law is for chief officers of police, and if any hon. Member knows of a particular example which should be drawn to their attention, it should be sent to me and I will pass on the information.

Mr. Goodhart

Has my right hon. Friend any evidence that fund-raising activities on behalf of the IRA have ceased in this country? Is he aware that it will be difficult to control more effectively the activities of the IRA in Great Britain until there is some control over immigration into this country from the Republic of Ireland?

Mr. Maudling

I have had no recent complaints about specific examples of fund collecting on behalf of the IRA. Interest in this House has been effective in bringing that to an end. The second point relates to a much wider question.

Mr. Stratton Mills

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the enormous anger which is felt by those engaged in the security fight in Northern Ireland and by the people living there when they see Republican and IRA leaders parading around Britain? Will my right hon. Friend do everything possible in conjunction with the security authorities to deal effectively with both their financial and their propaganda efforts?

Mr. Maudling

Certainly. But in so far as they are breaking the law, it must be for the police authorities to take action against them. I am sure that what has been said today will be noted by the police authorities.