HC Deb 09 April 1974 vol 872 cc141-2
12. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about security operations in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Mason

Army operations in urban, rural and border areas have continued with the aim of preventing terrorist activity and inhibiting the movement of weapons and explosives. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said on Thursday, these operations will continue in support of the progressively increasing rôle to be played by the civilian law enforcement agencies in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

While appreciating the difficulty that sometimes occurs concerning IRA funerals, may I ask whether it was a military or a political decision that permitted uniformed IRA men—accompanied, it is reported, by six bands—to perform a ceremony near Armagh city centre the other day?

Mr. Mason

I am not aware of the incident to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but since he has raised the matter I shall look into it and write to him.

Mr. Kilfedder

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the statement recently made by the Eire Minister of Defence on BBC radio to the effect that no-go areas exist in Northern Ireland in which the British Army cannot operate? The Eire Defence Minister also cited as an example South Armagh and went on to say that there was no part of the Eire border where Eire troops could not operate. In view of that statement, will the Minister give an assurance that the British Army is active all along the border and dealing with terrorists? Secondly, will he comment on the incident last Saturday in which shots were fired from the Eire side of the border at a British Army helicopter?

Mr. Mason

I give the hon. Gentleman the assurance that Her Majesty's Forces are operating in any part of Northern Ireland they wish. There is the problem on the border, and I hope that Ministers in the South will recognise that we require much more co-operation than hitherto from both the Army and the Garda.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Does the Secretary of State agree that there has been considerable escalation in Londonderry, with rocket and bombing attacks on the headquarters and sniping at least two or three times a day? What is being done to alleviate the situation? Where are these rockets and bombs coming from, since they seem to be going in increasing quantities into the Londonderry area?

Mr. Mason

There is a Question later on the Order Paper on the last point raised by the hon. Gentleman. Apart from what have been spectacular bombing incidents, the figures show that prior to Operation Motorman the number of shooting incidents was 1,738 but in the last quarter of 1973 they fell to 300 and in the first quarter of 1974 the figure was down to 273. Therefore, the trend is downward. The same trend is shown for bombings, except for one or two spectacular incidents of late.

17. Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the SAS Unit of the British Army are currently serving in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Mason

None, Sir.

Mr. Whitehead

I thank my right hon. Friend for that very comprehensive negative. Can he also give the House an assurance that no members of the Regular Army have been or are involved in any operations on the territory of the Irish Republic? Can he also tell us how many troops of Regular units are required to mount counter-insurgence duties in Northern Ireland without uniforms or military identification?

Mr. Mason

I cannot give the numbers but, as my hon. Friend obviously knows, there are a number of our forces serving in plain clothes performing surveillance duties and other security operations. In view of the conditions in Northern Ireland, they are absolutely necessary, too.