HC Deb 23 June 1981 vol 7 cc126-7
8. Sir John Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the activities of the Ulster Defence Regiment.

Mr. Goodhart

The UDR assists the Regular Forces in providing support for the RUC. It now provides first call support to the police over most of the Province, patrolling rural and urban areas, guarding important sites and installations and manning vehicle check points. Elements from the regiment were also called upon recently to enhance security during the local government elections. The UDR has taken part this year in a number of ceremonial occasions in Northern Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom. Sadly, the UDR continues to be the subject of terrorist attacks; this year seven UDR soldiers have been killed—five of them whilst off duty.

Sir John Biggs-Davison

Was it not good to see the band of the Ulster Defence Regiment on Horse Guards Parade? Is my hon. Friend satisfied that the local knowledge of the UDR is being used, not only with the RUC, but by the Regular Army, through joint patrols and operations?

Mr. Goodhart

I assure my hon. Friend that the local knowledge of the UDR is highly valued by the units of the Regular Army in Northern Ireland and by my headquarters.

Mr. W. Benyon

In view of the large-scale unemployment in the Province, will my hon. Friend consider replacing progressively the Regular units of the British Army with locally raised personnel?

Mr. Goodhart

As I am sure my hon. Friend knows, over the years there has been a reduction in the size of the Regular Army in Northern Ireland. While there has been some increase in the strength of the full-time element of the UDR, there has also been a significant increase in the strength of the RUC.

Mr. Molyneaux

Will the Minister examine the possibility of speeding up the processing of applications for enlistment into the Ulster Defence Regiment?

Mr. Goodhart

I shall look at that matter again, but it is important to check to see that we get the best recruits.

Mr. McNamara

Will the Minister consider publishing the review of the "Ulsterisation" of the security forces in the Six Counties of Northern Ireland, to see how effective that has been? In particular, will he draw the attention of the House and the country to the effort to get cross-community support for the security forces, and say what proportion of recruitment there has been?

Mr. Goodhart

This subject has been touched on in many debates on Northern Ireland and on the Army in the course of the last few years, and I am sure that it will figure in the debates that are shortly to be held.