§ 18. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the military rôle and operations in Northern Ireland.
§ 24. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the current operations of the security forces in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownI would refer the hon. Members to the reply my right hon. Friend gave on 13th May 1975. The Army continues to assist the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the difficult task of combating violence and terrorism in the Province, and the level of is operations continues to be related to the level of violence which occurs.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonIn view of the atrocious ambush near Forkill in which four very brave soldiers, one from Belfast and the others from Great Britain, died in defence of the United Kingdom, and in view of the references by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland yesterday to the fragility of the so-called cease-fire, can we be assured that security forces are on the fullest alert and that they have their eyes on the known organisers of terrorism who are at present openly at large?
§ Mr. McNair-WilsonCan the hon. Gentleman tell us the number of security forces now in Northern Ireland and give an assurance that while the level of violence remains as intense as it is now there will be no reduction in the forces?
§ Mr. BrownThe number of forces in Northern Ireland at the moment is about 288 14,000. Any question of a reduction would depend entirely on the prevailing situation.