Security (Hansard, 12 April 2000)

§ 3. Mr. Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge)
If he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland. [117373]

§ The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. Adam Ingram)
There remains a continuing potent and dangerous threat from dissident paramilitaries. There has also been a recent increase in the so-called 353 punishment beatings, which we unreservedly condemn. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State continues to keep the security situation under close review.

§ Mr. Nicholls
On this most remarkable day, with the presentation of the George Cross to the RUC, Ministers are clearly speaking for us all when they pay tribute to the matchless courage of the RUC. The Roman Catholics who have been brave enough to serve in the RUC also deserve a mention, bearing in mind that the Irish Republican Army made it clear that it would kill them for doing so, if it could. Does the Minister understand that if the badges, emblems and tradition of the RUC are to be cast aside to appease those who spend their lives trying to destroy the RUC, that will amount not to a celebration of the courage of the RUC, but to its betrayal?

§ Mr. Ingram
Of course today is a very auspicious day, with the award of the George Cross to the RUC. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State referred to that and the whole House endorsed what he said. In terms of the way forward in respect of the future policing of Northern Ireland, I would have thought that the hon. Gentleman could lif his eyes slightly higher and look at the new horizon, which is an inclusive approach to Northern Ireland that involves everyone in taking forward a new normalised society. That was implicit in the Good Friday agreement and was presaged in the Patten report. We will present our views on how to proceed with that in legislation in due course.

§ Mr. Tony Clarke (Northampton, South)
Does my right hon. Friend believe that the central point for future security in Northern Ireland is decommissioning and that, if paramilitary groups ensured that there was a noticeable reduction in or an end to punishment beatings, that would be a positive move towards decommissioning and could form part of the Government's discussions on the issue?

§ Mr. Ingram
My hon. Friend raises an important issue, which was addressed on earlier questions by my ministerial colleague, who made it very clear that if politics is to work, private armies must be removed from the equation. Decommissioning is most likely to happen in the context of implementation of the whole agreement, including the restoration of the institutions, which in turn is most likely to happen if there is genuine confidence on everyone's part that decommissioning will happen in good time and the threat that weapons pose is removed for good.

§ Mr. John D. Taylor (Strangford)
On this special day in Northern Ireland, we welcome the visit of Her Majesty the Queen. We are especially delighted at the well-deserved award of the George Cross to the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Does the Minister recall that, when we signed up to the Belfast agreement, the Government agreed in article 1 on page 28 that they would give full respect for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both communities..? Is he aware of the public opinion poll conducted last week by McCann Erickson—a well-known public relations firm in Northern Ireland—and printed in the Belfast Telegraph, which confirms that 93 per cent. of the Protestants in Northern Ireland and 61 per cent. of the Roman Catholics 354 are not offended by the name "Royal Ulster Constabulary"? Why do the Government propose to breach the Belfast agreement?

§ Mr. Ingram
I do not think that we are breaching it. We are involved in discussions through which we hope to move forward in a more progressive way over the coming weeks, or a longer period, if that is required.
The survey to which the right hon. Gentleman referred contained other statistics and showed that a sizeable proportion of the minority community found the RUC offensive. We have to take that into account. We can argue against it all we want and we can uphold and defend the good name of the RUC, which I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State do on many, many occasions, but we have to take account of the need to create an inclusive society. That is what the Belfast agreement set out to achieve, and that is what we are seeking to implement in full.

§ Mr. Peter Robinson (Belfast, East)
Is the Minister aware of the controversy surrounding the action of an IRA prisoner who is suing the Government for £50,000 following a botched attempt to escape? Will he instruct his Department to stop settling claims from prisoners out of court and to ensure that any money received by prisoners is clawed back to make up for the amount spent by the Government in compensation?

§ Mr. Ingram
It would be inappropriate for me to discuss any individual case that is currently before a court of law. Compensation claims are settled following a practice that has been adopted over a number of years: there is no new development. Claims are always settled on the basis of the best legal advice available on the nature and extent of the claim. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will understand that. If he returns as a Minister in the restored Assembly, he may have to make some difficult decisions himself. I look forward to his having that opportunity.