Security (Hansard, 23 December 1982)

14. Mr. J. Enoch Powell
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will institute special security precautions during the Christmas season.

§ 9. Mr. Proctor
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

§ 15. Rev. Ian Paisley
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. Prior
I regret to report that since 25 November, 22 people have died in incidents arising from the security situation in the Province. Seventeen of these, 11 soldiers and six civilians, died as a result of the explosion at Ballykelly on 6 December. Three other members or ex-members of the security forces were shot down. A man has already been charged in respect of one of these shootings. Two men, claimed as members of the Irish National Liberation Army, were shot dead by the police.
So far this year 684 persons have been charged with terrorist type offences, including 50 with murder and 95 with attempted murder, and 319 weapons, 40,797 rounds of ammunition together with 5,064 lb of explosives have been recovered.
As for the introduction of special security precautions during the Christmas season, this is of course a matter for the judgment of the Chief Constable and the GOC, but I understand they have stepped up the already high level of their operations in the past few days.

Mr. Powell
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Christmas and all Christmases to come will be haunted by the memory of those who have lost their lives or been bereaved needlessly because he despised and rejected the advice and warnings of those who know better than he?

§ Mr. Prior
The right hon. Gentleman is making serious charges, which I believe he has absolutely no justification for making. Everyone, except, apparently, the right hon. Gentleman, knows that terrorists do not need the excuse of an Assembly to carry out their activities. What is more, they have been carrying out those activities for the past 12 years. Surely the right hon. Gentleman must realise that whatever view he takes about the Assembly, it has not been the cause of increased violence or, regrettably, less violence.

§ Rev. Ian Paisley
Will the right hon. Gentleman convey to Her Majesty's Forces, the RUC, the RUC 1061 Reserve, and the UDR the deep gratitude of the Ulster people for the service that they are giving in Northern Ireland?
Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to ensure that the special units of the RUC, which have been so effective in countering terrorist operations in the county of Armagh, will be usd right across the Province and that the war against the IRA will go on until the IRA is defeated?

§ Mr. Prior
I am grateful for what the hon. Gentleman said in the first part of his question. The whole House will agree with his sentiments.
On the second part of the question, special units of the RUC are available in any part of Northern Ireland, but I must make it clear that they must act strictly within the law, that no fresh instructions have been given to the RUC over the past few weeks or months and that those units and all the police must act within the law, and they are doing so. Even in the heightened, tightened situation in South Armagh that remains the position.

§ Mr. William Ross
What special precautions were taken at places used by soldiers before the Ballykelly bombing? In the light of the McGlinchey case, has the RUC prepared a long list of applications for extraditions from the Irish Republic?

§ Mr. Prior
The hon. Gentleman's questions are matters for the GOC and the Chief Constable respectively. I have no doubt that the GOC has taken, and will take, all the measures that he thinks right to protect soldiers and others when they are out of barracks. I also have no doubt that, following the McGlinchey case, the Chief Constable is making what preparations he thinks right with regard to extraditions.

§ Sir John Biggs-Davison
Is my right hon. Friend aware that the whole nation will share the gratitude, expressed on behalf of the Ulster people by the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley), to the security forces? Does my right hon. Friend not think it extraordinary that, in such a protracted emergency, court sentences and remission policy mean that unreformed terrorists are set free to rejoin the terrorist ranks while hostilities continue? Can something be done about this?

§ Mr. Prior
We must obey the rulings of the courts. If we fail to do so, we are playing into the hands of the terrorists. I assure my hon. Friend that the rules for those committed to life sentences are different and that careful consideration is given before any release is contemplated.
The whole House will join in my right hon. Friend's praise for the security forces. This was admirably borne out during the tour yesterday by the Prime Minister and the reception that she received. I am certain that all the people of Northern Ireland are grateful for the time that she spent in the Province.

§ Mr. Concannon
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Opposition also wish to express thanks to all members of the security forces who will be busy at work on our behalf over Christmas? I include the Minister who has drawn the short straw as the duty Minister over Christmas. It is the Opposition's firm belief that if progress is to be made over security the best way forward is by political means. The right hon. Gentleman can be assured of our support for any steps towards political progress that are taken on both sides of the community.

§ Mr. Prior
I am grateful for what the right hon. Gentleman has said. I make one last Christmas appeal to Members of the Unionist Party who are present to give the Assembly a chance. I ask them to recognise that a devolved Assembly in Northern Ireland with powers available and exercised by the people of Northern Ireland acting in community is the most likely way to achieve political stability and, in the long run, the peace that is available in Northern Ireland.

§ Rev. Martin Smyth
Will the Minister accept that the practicability point is difficult, following his earlier answer to the hon. Member for Belfast, East (Mr. Robinson), when he said that it would take the presence of the SDLP to restore those powers? If we are paying tribute to the security forces, will the right hon. Gentleman take the practical step of honouring them through the award of medals? Will he further acknowledge that within the law it is a travesty that 50 per cent. remission, instead of the parole system, is applicable to terrorists in Northern Ireland?

§ Mr. Prior
As the hon. Gentleman knows, I have promised the hon. Member for Armagh (Mr. McCusker) to consider the last point. If we are to achieve peace, all sections of society in Northern Ireland have to be prepared to give up some of their most cherished views. That is what we are looking for. If the hon. Gentleman is asking whether I can put forward, within the context of the Assembly, any further suggestions that might help to get devolved government back to Northern Ireland, I can tell him that this is something that I am prepared to do in consultation with the parties as soon as they wish to come and talk to me about it.