Security (Hansard, 30 January 1986)

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

§ Mr. Tom King
Since I last answered questions in the House on 12 December three members of the security forces have died in incidents arising from the security situation in the Province.
The efforts of the security forces are continuing to yield results. During 1985 a total of 522 people were charged with serious offences, including 24 with murder; and 234 weapons, 13,700 rounds of ammunition, and 7,300 lb of explosives were recovered.
The present level of security force activity is high and I am in regular contact with the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the General Officer Commanding to ensure that they have the necessary resources.

§ Mr. Proctor
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that sombre statement. In view of the concessions to the SDLP in the Anglo-Irish agreement, will he use his good offices to try to ensure that the SDLP fully and unequivocally supports the RUC, without political strings?

§ Mr. King
It is vital that all members of the community support the RUC and the security forces at this testing time. I look to the SDLP to support the RUC without equivocation and to encourage all its supporters to do likewise.

§ Mr. Hume
Will the Secretary of State draw the attention of the hon. Member for Billericay (Mr. Proctor) to my words in the debate on the Anglo-Irish agreement on the subject that he mentioned, and my words in reply to an intervention on an earlier occasion by the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Sir J. Biggs-Davison), which were unequivocal?
Does the Secretary of State agree that in Great Britain, whenever a police officer or a member of the security forces is engaged in a shooting incident in doubtful circumstances, it is normal practice for that officer to be suspended while an investigation takes place? Why has that practice not obtained in the serious shooting incident at Kildress a few nights ago, which involved members of the Ulster Defence Regiment?

§ Mr. King
The hon. Gentleman will be aware that in all shooting incidents involving the security forces, such as the one he mentioned, the facts are investigated by the RUC, whose findings must be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland. I understand that, in accordance with normal practice, the persons involved are not at present on operational duties.

4. Mr. John Mark Taylor
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his plans for the future of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

§ Mr. Scott
The Assembly is not at present carrying out its scrutinising and consultative functions. If this were to continue, it would clearly put a question mark over its future. In the interests of the people of Northern Ireland, I hope that normal activities will now be resumed.

Mr. Taylor
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that, in the light of the interesting by-election results, those who have done well should respond positively and make a go of the Northern Ireland Assembly?

§ Mr. Scott
I have no doubt that the most desirable way forward for Northern Ireland is to return to devolved government on a basis acceptable to both sections of the community there so that the political leaders of Northern Ireland have a real say in the Province's political development.

§ Mr. Skinner
Has the Minister noticed that during Question Time today many references have been made to the fact that the Government want Ministers and their officials to do a lot of talking to all the various groups in Northern Ireland? Is he aware that the Government could be accused of double standards, in that they want talking in Northern Ireland—they encourage their officials to talk a donkey's hind leg off on that subject—but, in the Select Committee, they tell the Department of Trade and Industry not to talk and they gag Miss Colette Bowe? The Government will talk about Northern Ireland, but they are not prepared to talk about the truth.

§ Mr. Bellingham
What does the Assembly cost? Does my hon. Friend agree that, at this time of uncertainty, it is far better to have a forum in which views can be expressed than to have no forum at all?

§ Mr. Scott
The Assembly's running costs for the last financial year were just under —3 million. The Assembly was established with two functions. The first was to make progress towards devolved government, and the second, which it was carrying out until early December, was to scrutinise the work of Northern Ireland Departments. I hope that we shall get back to both those functions as quickly as possible.

§ Mr. Maclennan
Does the Minister believe that the SDLP leadership has any interest in or intention of returning to the Assembly?

§ Mr. Scott
My understanding of statements made by the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume) is that he is willing to sit down with representatives of the Unionist parties in Northern Ireland to discuss the basis for devolved government. It is up to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) to clarify that with the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume), if he wishes to do so.