§ 8. Mr. Sternasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when his Department last reviewed its community relations policy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyI am currently reviewing the community policy for which my Department has a statutory responsibility.
§ Mr. SternDoes my hon. Friend accept that many hon. Members on both sides of the House will welcome this review, and will urge him to continue to take a lead on the matter?
§ Dr. MawhinneyI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his encouragement. The Government recognise that it is important to do all that lies within their power to promote good community relations. That is the end that I should like to see achieved as a consequence of the review.
§ Mr. MaddenDoes the Minister realise that one of the matters that is disturbing community relations in Northern Ireland concerns the extremely serious allegations being made by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Northern Ireland, myself and other persons, against RUC officers, civilian employees of the RUC arid solicitors, who are alleged to be involved in an immigration racket? Why has the RUC detective at the centre of these allegations not been suspended while inquiries are made? When will Mr. Chan Hok-Chun, a victim of this immigration racket, be allowed to return to London and rejoin his wife? He is now in detention in Belfast. When will the Minister bust this immigration racket, about which I told him in January and February this year?
§ Dr. MawhinneyI am not at all clear what that question has to do with my responsibilities for community relations. If the hon. Gentleman is saying that he has written to me in that capacity, I shall have to ask my Department what has happened to his letter. If, on the other hand, he has not written to me in my community relations role, which is what I understood him to say, then no doubt, if he feels so strongly, he will write to me.