HC Deb 22 March 1984 vol 56 cc1159-61
1. Mr. Molyneaux

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

11. Mr. Nicholson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Norther Ireland.

12. Mr. Maginnis

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

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. James Prior)

Since I last answered questions on 23 February there have been five deaths in incidents arising from the security situation in the Province. Two were part-time soldiers of the Ulster Defence Regiment, one was a former member of the UDR, one was a member of the prison service and one was a civilian. In the same period 52 people have been charged with terrorist offences, and 16 weapons, 3,997 rounds of ammunition and 1,191 lb of explosives have been recovered.

Mr. Molyneaux

What progress is the Secretary of State making in ascertaining the motives of the instigators of the murder of the deputy governor of the Maze prison?

Mr. Prior

As the right hon. Gentleman will know, a number of people have been charged with offences connected with that murder. As the matter is now sub judice, I shall not say anything further.

Mr. Nicholson

s: What report can the Secretary of State make to the House on the fiasco of attempts to close cross-border crossings? Have these attempts now been abandoned in deference to representations made to him by the Irish ambassador?

Mr. Prior

The answer to the second part of that question is no, Sir. The further closure of border crossings is being considered and kept under review. Of the total number of border crossings between Northern Ireland and the Republic, about half are closed.

Mr. Maginnis

Is the Secretary of State aware that my constituents were considerably heartened by his frankness—if not his message—during his recent television interview, when he said that border security had never been good? Will he now tell us in general terms what steps he hopes to take to improve border security? I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will not put the House off with the usual answer that it is a matter for the General Officer Commanding and the Chief Constable. It is the Secretary of State's responsibility.

Mr. Prior

Yes, I fully accept that it is my responsibility. However, operational duties are the responsibility of the GOC and the Chief Constable. Border security is never as good as I would wish. The problem is not only border security, but the internal security of Northern Ireland.

Rev. Ian Paisley

Is the Secretary of State aware that there is great concern among the border community about what is taking place? Is he further aware that what happened after Darkley has now been reversed and we have returned to a pre-Darkley position? Will the right hon. Gentleman respond to the representations made to him by members of many sections of the community in Northern Ireland that certain crossings should be closed and intersections along the border manned to prevent terrorists from the Republic coming in and doing their diabolical deeds?

Mr. Prior

It is not true to say that security force levels are back to their pre-Darkley levels. Additional forces are deployed, mostly in a covert manner, in those areas.

The view of the operational commanders is that more attention should be paid to intersections, not necessarily on a permanent basis, but more on an in-and-out basis.

I am, of course, deeply aware and conscious of the views of people living near or on the border, and I try to take them very much into account in my discussions with the operational commanders.

Mr. McNamara

The right hon. Gentleman referred to the number of people who have been charged. Will he give an undertaking that they will be brought to trial within a reasonable time and that we shall not have internment by stealth, which seems to be the result of the figures published yesterday of the number of people who have been detained for long periods?

Mr. Prior

This is a matter of great concern. It is one not directly for me, but for the judicial authorities. Every effort is made to bring people to trial as quickly as possible, but there are a number of problems—not least the desire of defendants to choose particular counsel and the availability of counsel. However, I assure the House and the hon. Gentleman that I am doing all that I can to ensure that there is a speed-up in some of these remand cases.

Mr. William Ross

Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that not one person who is wanted by the RUC for the murder of a member of the security forces, or what the courts in the Irish Republic call "a political crime", has yet been extradited to Northern Ireland? Will he welcome extradition where it has taken place, but continue to press for full extradition in respect of these other crimes? Is he aware of the danger of being too overjoyed at getting one swallow, even if it is a very nasty one?

Mr. Prior

I cannot answer offhand the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question, but if he tables a question I shall have the facts looked at. I very much favour extradition and am always drawing that to the attention of the Republic, but we should at least welcome what has happened in this case.

Mr. Archer

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that closing roads is only a minor inconvenience to terrorists who can cross fields on foot or by tractor, while it is a real problem to legitimate travellers who travel openly on public highways? Will he consider whether the irritation and loss of good will may not be worth more to the terrorists than they lose?

Mr. Prior

All these matters must be taken into consideration. We must also bear in mind that if a border crossing is closed and subsequently reopened, there is no point in closing it in the first place unless security forces are manning the closure. If the security forces are manning a closure, there is not much point in making the closure in the first place.