§ 8. Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current repair programme for police stations damaged by terrorist activity.
§ Mr. ScottThe Provisional IRA's bombing campaign on police stations, and the intimidation of building contractors involved in security works, will not diminish the RUC's commitment to discharging its essential talks. The Government and the Police Authority for Northern Ireland are firmly resolved that police stations which have been damaged or need to be replaced will be repaired or rebuilt as a matter of top priority.
§ Mr. BruinvelsWhile I welcome my hon. Friend's statement that police stations are being properly repaired as speedily as possible after outrageous attacks on them by terrorists, may I ask him to join me in applauding the protection given to the workers repairing the police stations by the Royal Anglian Regiment and, in particular, by the 150 noble men from the county of Leicestershire?
§ Mr. ScottI certainly pay the warmest tribute to the Royal Anglians, the additional Royal Engineers who have come to assist in the task of rebuilding and preparing the police stations, and to all the security forces in Northern Ireland for their work.