HC Deb 07 December 1978 vol 959 cc1607-8
11. Mr. Ernest G. Perry

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied that enough is done to provide emergency help when people are bombed or driven out of their homes by anti-Government forces.

Mr. Carter

Yes, Sir. Officials of various Government Departments, public agencies and voluntary organisations act speedily to provide emergency help when people in any part of Northern Ireland have to vacate their homes through bombings or other terrorist activities. This help takes the form of immediate shelter, meals, transport, hardship payments and other special needs as well as first aid repairs to homes or the transfer of families to emergency housing. Operations are closely co-ordinated and every effort is made to give immediate assistance.

Mr. Perry

I thank my hon. Friend for that comprehensive reply. Does he realise the extent of the shock to those who are the victims of terrorism? Is he confident that the available services are satisfactory, particularly when it comes to handing out cash to people who have lost everything?

Mr. Carter

My hon. Friend is right. We probably all underestimate the shock and disturbance that a bombing causes to any family. However, our emergency services make every effort to restore a home or family to normality as quickly as possible. It is a credit to all the organisations involved that we have never had any serious criticism of any of the emergency services that we provide.

Mr. Bradford

Does the hon. Gentleman accept that the bombers do not stop at 5 o'clock on Friday afternoons and that the availability of the emergency services is not all that it might be at weekends? Secondly, does he accept that the extent of emergency repairs is often such as to render poorer people of the community out of pocket because of the new de minimis level in the order, which imposes a limit on compensation for criminal damage?

Mr. Carter

I am prepared to consider the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. During my time in Northern Ireland it has not appeared to me that anybody has suffered economically as a consequence of bomb damage. As the hon. Gentleman says, the bombers do not stop at midnight. Neither do the emergency services. The Housing Executive, all the voluntary organisations, the RUC and everybody else involved operate a 24-hour service.

Mr. Concannon

And all Ministers.

Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

Did the Minister see the"Man Alive"programme earlier this week on the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast? Is he aware of the admiration that the programme invoked in all those who saw it for the selfless work of those in that hospital who look after the victims of terrorism?

Mr. Carter

As the programme pointed out, the hospital is at the forefront in the techniques that it employs and leads the whole of the Western world and probably the whole of the medical world. The House and everybody in Northern Ireland are indebted to the work of the surgeons, the medical staff and everybody working within the precincts of the hospital.