HC Deb 18 June 1981 vol 6 cc1171-2
12. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will invite a group of international observers to spend 12 months in Northern Ireland from 1 September 1981 with free access to people and places and with the right to report to international bodies concerned with human rights on the results of their observations.

Mr. Humphrey Atkins

No, Sir; but I should emphasis that the Government co-operate with international bodies which have a locus within the United Kingdom in accordance with our international obligations.

Mr. Hooley

Does the Secretary of State agree that a propaganda battle about the situation in Northern Ireland is raging both in the United Kingdom and abroad, in which mythology tends to take precedence over fact? Might it not help if there were a body to report on the facts that was independent of all warring parties?

Mr. Atkins

I take the hon. Gentleman's point. He is right to suppose that there is a propaganda battle, in which the Government are constrained by the necessity to tell the truth. Others are not. In the end the truth prevails, but it takes a long time to do so. We cannot command the involvement of outside bodies. However, the Government have repeatedly made it clear that if, for example, a complaint is made to the European Commission of Human Rights we shall make every facility available for it to be investigated. It is surprising that not one of the protesters in the Maze, including the hunger strikers, has made such a complaint. One can assume only that they have nothing to complain about.

Mr. Latham

As regards propaganda, is not one thing plain, namely, that the IRA wishes its members to be treated as prisoners of war? Is my right hon. Friend aware not only that such a claim is intolerable and inconceivable, but that even in time of war armed terrorists in plain clothes fall outside the Geneva convention and can be executed if caught?

Mr. Atkins

It is true that such people can be executed. The protesters are claiming, in effect, to be treated as prisoners of war. They are not. They are criminals. They have been convicted in open court of crimes that are treated as such in ordinary law anywhere in the civilised world. They are serving their sentences, as they should.

Mr. Cryer

If the Government's case is so strong, if we have had troops in Northern Ireland for about 12 years without any marked change in the circumstances, and if the Government recognise that a propaganda campaign is being undertaken by both sides of the sectarian divide, what harm would it do to accede to the request made by my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley)? At the end of 12 months might not that group's report be able to strengthen the Government's case?

Mr. Atkins

The hon. Gentleman referred to the troops in Northern Ireland. They have been there for more than 12 years. They have been there since the separation of Northern Ireland from the Republic. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and troops are stationed there just as they are in other parts of the United Kingdom. The hon. Gentleman also implied that things have not been getting any better. If he studies the statistics of terrorist activity in Northern Ireland, which I regularly give in reply to questions in the House, he will see that 1980 was the quietest year since 1970.