§ 3. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the strength and operations of Her Majesty's Forces in Northern Ireland.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army (Mr. Robert C. Brown)There are 14 major units of the combat arms, or about 14,000 Regular 1092 troops, in Northern Ireland. The Armed Forces are continuing to operate with success in support of the civil authorities in the Province. Increased emphasis is being placed on the collection of information which will improve the effectiveness of the security forces and facilitate the prosecution of those who break the law.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonTo relieve the strain on Regular units, should not the Ulster Defence Regiment be further and speedily expanded, and, therefore, must not UDR pay and allowances be overhauled? To take on example, I know a married couple, both of whom are serving with distinction in the regiment, who would be financially better off if one of them resigned. Does the Secretary of State endorse the principle stated by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition that no Service man or woman should be worse off because of an Ulster posting?
§ Mr. BrownI am sure that the hon. Gentleman is already aware that we are expanding the UDR, particularly the full-time element, in regard to which another 700 full-timers are being recruited. At the present time we have full-time platoons already in operation. Three of them are already in full operation, two of them are partially in operation, we are in the process of recruiting another platoon, and a further five platoons will be recruited.
§ Mr. PowellIs the Minister aware of the satisfaction which attended the announcement that the Government intended to make 2,500 their immediate target for the size of the full-time UDR? May I ask him to allow nothing to defer the reorganisation of the UDR which the embodiment of this element will involve?
With regard to the question put by the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Biggs-Davison), will the Minister continue to be available to hon. Members who bring to his notice cases of apparent hardship where a wife and husband are both serving in the UDR?
§ Mr. BrownI am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his observations. I assure him that we are giving the highest priority, within resources, to the expansion of the UDR. If right hon. and hon. Members have a case of hardship 1093 that they wish to bring to my attention, I shall listen and look at it with sympathy.
§ Mr. GoodhartCan the Minister say whether the special inquiry into pay and conditions for Regular soldiers in Northern Ireland, which he announced during the course of the Army debate, has finished its work and whether any further statements about improvements in pay and conditions can be expected?
§ Mr. BrownI am sure the hon. Gentleman is well aware of the fact that my right hon. Friend has already announced a considerable improvement for the resident battalions. With regard to other issues, I am sure that these will be looked at in relation to the next phase of pay policy.