HC Deb 28 November 1974 vol 882 cc614-5
16. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on security arrangements in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The security forces continue to work for the suppression of terrorism and the maintenance of law and order.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Does not the transfer of the IRA bombing from Northern Ireland to England partly reflect the growing success of the security forces in Ulster, and should they not be congratulated by the House on this success? Since the problem and the danger are common to the whole of the British Isles, will early talks be held with Dublin about a co-ordinated defence plan for the whole of the British Isles?

Mr. Rees

An estimate of the question why the Provisional IRA has brought violence to this part of the United Kingdom is probably wider than the point the hon. Gentleman has made. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. The number of shootings, explosions, deaths and injuries is down in the first three-quarters of this year compared with last year. That may have a bearing on what the hon. Gentleman said. We engage in discussions of a security nature with the Government of Eire. It is as well to realise that in many of the discussions about the political aspects of Northern Ireland, successive Governments in the South of Ireland have been and are utterly opposed to the Provisional IRA and that the Provisional IRA does not speak for the people of Ireland.

Mr. Lipton

Is not the general situation in Northern Ireland much worse now than it was five years ago, before the British troops moved in? Is my right hon. Friend prepared to draw any inference from that state of affairs.

Mr. Rees

My hon. Friend is right to say that the situation is worse than it was when the British troops went in five years ago, but it does not follow that the British troops are the causative factor. If they were not in Belfast, the Catholic community in West Belfast would be at the severest risk. That is a fact that I have to take into account. If my hon. Friend cared to visit the Falls area and ask the Catholic population there what they think, I think that he would find their advice on the matter worth while.

Mr. Townsend

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the Royal Military Police has a particularly important role in helping the local police force? If he does, will he do all he can to persuade his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence not to reduce its numbers in his defence review?

Mr. Rees

The Royal Military Police performs a valuable task in Northern Ireland but, as much as that is true, it is most important that we have normal policing in Northern Ireland, because it is only then that law and order will be achieved. It is a matter for all the population in Northern Ireland. The answer comes best from the people themselves and their police.