HC Deb 19 November 1974 vol 881 cc1103-6
Mrs. Knight (by Private Notice)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a request from the chief constable concerned in relation to the proposed IRA funeral procession in the Midlands and what was his reply.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Roy Jenkins)

I have not yet received any such request.

The commemoration in public places of those who seek to be indiscriminate murderers of innocent people is, in my view, rightly unacceptable to the inhabitants of this country. I do not instruct the police in the discharge of their duties, whether in relation to public order or other matters. But I am naturally in close touch with the West Midlands Constabulary and I have told them they will have full support from me in any legal measures they take to deal with such affronts to the overstrained tolerance of a long-suffering people.

Mrs. Knight

Is the Home Secretary aware that his words will have given pleasure to many people outside the House? Is he aware of the depths of anger and resentment that have been caused by the report that IRA spokesmen have said that an official funeral march with a guard of honour will attend the removal of a terrorist's body from the Midlands? Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that if such action were to take place in honouring a would-be murderer of innocent British people, it would be blatantly provocative and likely to cause a severe breach of the peace? Does the right hon. Gentleman also agree that the British people will no longer stand for their avowed enemies demonstrating and marching freely in British streets?

Mr. Jenkins

I do not think that my remarks were intended to, or should, give pleasure to anyone. I do not think that there is any pleasure for anyone to derive from this incident. With respect to the hon. Lady, her two subsequent supplementary questions were almost specifically answered in my original answer, which no doubt she had not heard when she decided to ask the supplementary questions.

Sir Bernard Braine

Does not the Question go somewhat deeper? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the growing puzzlement of large numbers of people why an organisation which has openly declared war on this country and is carrying out a programme of bombings and killings of innocent civilians should continue to be a legal organisation here although it is illegal in the Republic of Ireland? Is not the time coming when the right hon. Gentleman should address himself to the need to rationalise that situation?

Mr. Jenkins

The time is not coming; the time has come. I have addressed myself to this continually since being in office. On the best advice available to me from the police and the security services, I have concluded, as did my predecessor, and the previous Government, that while it might understandably assuage certain feelings to introduce a ban, it would, if anything, make the position of the security services more difficult and not easier. I have to weigh that against certain natural feelings of impatience. But the experience in Ireland does not suggest that a ban is the complete answer to our problems here.

Sir K. Joseph

Will the Home Secretary allow me to say from the Front Bench that the Opposition would welcome his statement? We shall want to consider carefully the right hon. Gentleman's last answer to the supplementary question about the ban because, as he accepts, there are many considerations. Will he allow me to say that the Opposition—I hope I speak on behalf of the whole House—welcome the forth-right declaration made by the Archbishop of Birmingham that he would not allow a church funeral for this sort of man?

Mr. Jenkins

I note what the right hon. Gentleman says and fully understand the former part of his supplementary question. In reply to the latter part, I always hesitate to intervene in these matters, but I should like to add my welcome of the forthright words of the Archbishop of Birmingham to that of the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Kilfedder

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the courageous decision of the Archbishop of Birmingham has achieved more than all the platitudes that have fallen from the lips of politicians and others since the first soldier or civilian was murdered in the United Kingdom by the IRA? Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the proposed parade by the IRA for McDade is aimed at recruiting people into the IRA, just as the IRA uses television for recruitment?

Mr. Jenkins

I note what the hon. Gentleman says. I do not wish to draw comparisons. As I said in reply to the right hon. Member for Leeds, North-East (Sir K. Joseph), I greatly welcome the Archbishop's statement, which is important.

Mr. Churchill

I welcome the Home Secretary's forthright statement, which reflects the views of the overwhelming majority of the people of this country. Is he aware that while, for the reasons he has given, funeral demonstrations are offensive to the people of England, when they take place in Northern Ireland they are perhaps doubly offensive to the people of Northern Ireland, who have to endure funeral demonstrations presided over by British troops who have to watch while illegally-held firearms are discharged over the grave side?

Mr. Jenkins

I am sure that there is much in what the hon. Gentleman says. The situation in Northern Ireland, which is not primarily a matter for me, presents even greater difficulties than do the incidents which concern us in this country. What I am resolved to do, so far as lies within my power, is to prevent any spread of such conditions into this island.