HC Deb 21 January 1993 vol 217 cc492-3
11. Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to counter terrorist activities; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. Michael Mates)

Since my right hon. and learned Friend answered a similar question on 26 November 1992, there have been nine deaths as a result of the security situation in Northern Ireland, including eight civilians and one soldier from the Royal Irish Regiment.

The determination of the Government and the security forces is unequivocal: terrorism will be defeated through the vigorous, impartial and effective actions—within the law—of the police, supported by the army and the general public. The security forces continue to deter and prevent many attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Mr. Thurnham

Can my hon. Friend confirm that security co-operation with the Republic has improved since—[Interruption.]

Madam Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman will resume his seat. One of his colleagues is on his feet.

Mr. Thurnham

Can my hon. Friend confirm that security co-operation with the Republic has improved since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement? Will he ensure that the terrorists never win, despite the attitude of the Labour party?

Mr. Mates

I do not speak for the Labour party. Many Labour Members are as determined as the Government to resist all forms of terrorism within the United Kingdom and anywhere else.

To answer the first question, I can confirm that there has been a major improvement in security co-operation between the forces of law and order, north and south, on the island of Ireland since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. The agreement has resulted in several major successes against the terrorists, their finances and some of the rackets that they run as well as against those who plot to bomb and kill.

Mr. John D. Taylor

Does the Minister accept that terrorism is defeated by security policies and political leadership from the Government? Does he recognise that there has been a rapid increase in loyalist terrorist violence every year since the imposition of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985? Last year, loyalist terrorists killed more people than the republican terrorists. Does the Minister accept that the controversial speech made by the Secretary of State in Coleraine in December has done nothing to reduce support for loyalist terrorism, which we condemn?

Mr. Mates

No, I do not accept that my right hon. and learned Friend's speech could in any way have been interpreted as giving any comfort to terrorists from either side of the divide. I confirm that there is simply no military solution to the problem. There must be a political progress, which is why my right hon. and learned Friend has made such superhuman efforts to achieve some form of progress between the political parties. Those efforts are due to continue throughout this year.

I agree strongly with the right hon. Gentleman that the upsurge in loyalist violence—the fact that the loyalists are becoming more ruthless when they pick their targets at random and murder people simply because of the religion they hold, without having anything whatever to do with any form of paramilitary organisations—is worrying. The Chief Constable is concerned about it and is taking steps to arrest those people and bring them to justice. We will continue to support him in all that he does.