§ 6. Mr. Douglasasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of schools in Northern Ireland which are at present used partially or wholly for military purposes.
§ Mr. ChannonNo schools in Northern Ireland are used wholly for military purposes. The army at present has part use of the premises of four schools.
§ Mr. DouglasDoes the hon. Gentleman accept that this is a quite serious situation, because young people in Northern Ireland are seeing all around them activities of a military or paramilitary nature and this is poisoning their minds for the future? If the Army is in any way inhabiting their schools, can the hon. Gentleman take urgent steps to see, all other things being equal, that it is removed from schools as soon as possible?
§ Mr. ChannonI agree with the first part of what the hon. Gentleman has said. Certainly I am sure that the Army does not wish to occupy schools any longer than necessary, but the hon. Gentleman will agree that, in the present security situation, if it is right in the 683 interests of security for the Army to occupy this very small number of schools, it must be left to the judgment of the commanders on the spot.