HL Deb 01 February 1972 vol 327 cc688-90

3.35 p.m.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, I beg to acquaint the House with the fact that the Prime Minister, as adumbrated by the Chief Whip, is now making in another place a Statement, about the Inquiry to be held into the events of Sunday, January 30, which led to a loss of life in connection with the procession in Londonderry on that day. The Statement is as follows:

"The Government have decided that this Inquiry should be a Tribunal established under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921. The necessary Resolution was tabled last night, and the House will be asked to approve it this evening, after the conclusion of the debate on Northern Ireland."

In parenthesis, I would add that your Lordships will see a similar Motion on to-day's Order Paper in this House. The Statement proceeds:

"In order to ensure that the powers vested in the Tribunal extend to transferred matters under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, as well as to matters reserved to Westminster, the Northern Ireland Government will table a similar Resolution in the Northern Ireland Parliament.

"The House will be glad to know that the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Widgery, has consented to undertake the Inquiry. He will sit alone."

That, my Lords, is the Statement.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble and learned Lord for repeating this Statement. In a way it would have been more tidy had it been done later, when the Motion on the Order Paper was moved. I am grateful to the Government for agreeing to have the Statement at this moment, because I am sure that it was for the convenience of the House, rather than a good deal later when we had all read it on the tapes. The fact that there is a Motion on the Order Paper will enable noble Lords, if they wish, to discuss it then; and of course, we also have our debate on Northern Ireland to-morrow. I would only say now that we strongly welcome the Inquiry and in particular the appointment of the Lord Chief Justice. I cannot imagine a more onerous task than that which he is to undertake. I hope that everybody will come forward and give evidence, because if accusations are made on either side, whether against the Army or the other way round, it is important that such accusations should be brought out into the open and tested.

LORD BEAUMONT OF WHITLEY

My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Shackleton, that this is not the moment to speak at length on this matter. It goes without saying that the appointment of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Widgery, is the best possible one that could have been made within the terms of the British Bench, but I think it is a pity that the Government have seen fit not to go outside and to try to find someone distinguished, such as, say, Mr. Lester Pearson. I do not think the Government have yet realised, and I am sure that most noble Lords have not yet realised, the immense change in opinion that has taken place in Ireland as a result of what happened on Sunday. It has been compared to the change that occurred following the executions after the 1916 rising, and I am very much afraid that, so long as an Englishman is in charge of the Tribunal, there will be a lack of co-operation and this will be tragic.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, is the noble and learned Lord able to say what the terms of reference for this Tribunal will be, in addition to the rather short phrase that he used?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Shackleton, and in answer to the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, I would say that he will see the terms of reference on the Order Paper. In answer to the noble Lord, Lord Beaumont, I will say what I have to say about it later.