Security (Hansard, 1 May 1986)

§ 9. Mr. Yeo
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the security position.

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

Mr. King
Since I last answered questions in the House on 27 March, two civilians and two 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. Since the beginning of the year, a total of 264 people have been charged with serious offences and 95 weapons, 10,500 rounds of ammunition and 2,460 lb of explosives have been recovered. The House will wish to note that seven of these weapons and 1,240 lb of explosives have been recovered in the last six days.

§ Mr. Yeo
I am glad that my right hon. Friend is able to report such progress. Will he take this opportunity to make clear to the House, and above all to those extremists in Northern Ireland who are resorting to violence in their efforts to undermine the Anglo-Irish agreement, that the Government have no intention of being deflected from their purposes in signing that agreement, even if there were to be a regrettable, temporary deterioration in security?

Mr. King
One of the criticisms by some Unionists about the Anglo-Irish agreement that I find least acceptable is the implication that in some way the security forces will lessen their determination to fight terrorism. The figures that I have given to the House and the evidence of the last few days should make clear to everybody our determination to root out terrorism from wherever it comes. Yes, we have had successes in the last few days, but those very successes and the amount of bombs involved show clearly the scale of the threat that we still face.

§ Mr. Proctor
In order to reduce tension and improve security in Northern Ireland, will my right hon. Friend put intense pressure on the Government of the Republic of Eire to include in their forthcoming referendum on divorce a question about the repeal of articles 1 and 2 of the Republic's constitution? Will my right hon. Friend accept that it is no answer to say that we should not interfere in the internal affairs of the Republic?

Mr. King
I must admit that there is so much talk about articles 2 and 3 that I cannot remember what article 1 is about. I think my hon. Friend means articles 2 and 3. [Interruption.] I shall certainly study his request about article 1. I shall need to refresh my memory on it. I am on record publicly as saying that articles 2 and 3 do not contribute to better relations between the Republic and Northern Ireland. I hope that it will be possible at some future date for changes to be made. I certainly understand why my hon. Friend raises the matter.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
How is the security situation in Northern Ireland helped by the availability of kidnap 1086 insurance? I have here a letter written by Sedgewick UK Ltd., a City of London insurance company, offering kidnap and extortion insurance to a prominent citizen in Northern Ireland. What does the Secretary of State intend to do about that sort of thing? Does he intend to turn a blind eye, or, if he is committed to the restoration of peace in Northern Ireland, does he accept that he has a duty to intervene and prevent the sale of these policies on the open market?

Mr. King
I would be grateful if the hon. Gentleman would send me a copy of that letter so that I may study it. He knows that it is not an offence in the form of insurance, but it is an offence in Northern Ireland to pay ransom money to any proscribed organisation. This matter goes much wider than the question the hon. Gentleman asks. The whole question of rackets, of extortion, of protection is something on which we should take the strongest possible action.

§ Mr. Bill Walker
Does my right hon. Friend accept that Protestant—originated violence in Ulster is relevant to Scotland, where there is a lot of sympathetic support, where caches of weapons have been discovered on numerous occasions and where many prosecutions have taken place? If he does accept that, what consultations is he having with the Secretary of State for Scotland to ensure that the violence does not come across to Scotland?

Mr. King
On these issues I keep in close touch with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. The points made by my hon. Friend are correct, but perhaps he will forgive me if I do not go further into the matter at this stage. I assure him that his point is well taken.

§ Mr. Soames
In the light of the Anglo-Irish agreement, has my right hon. Friend noticed any improvement in cross-border security?

Mr. King
My hon. Friend will have noted recent events. I do not wish to go into detail about them, but I am satisfied that we are progressively developing closer co-operation on security and that this will undoubtedly be to the benefit of all those who wish to see a reduction in terrorism and its eventual elimination.