HL Deb 13 March 1973 vol 340 cc156-7

2.52 p.m.

LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGH

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they would think it desirable to ascertain, by referendum or otherwise, how far the people of this country are in favour of retaining Northern Ireland as a part of the United Kingdom.

VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS

My Lords, this is a matter for Parliament. Her Majesty's Government do not consider that a referendum would be constitutionally appropriate, or helpful.

LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGH

My Lords, while thanking the noble Viscount for that Answer, may I ask him whether Her Majesty's Government realise that the friends of this country overseas—I have spent the last three months in five overseas countries—are desperately anxious lest this country get bogged down in a Vietnam-like situation in Northern Ireland? Secondly, does the noble Viscount think that the Government have been completely honest in keeping the taxpayers of this Island informed of the hundreds of millions of pounds of their money spent per annum, which could be profitably spent elsewhere, and of the increasing running total of dead and seriously wounded (this is the point in which I am more interested than anything else) sons of those taxpayers?

VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS

My Lords, I am glad to know of the overseas concern for our future and our welfare and that of Northern Ireland. I am sure that this will be very encouraging for all the security forces in Northern Ireland who are attempting to deal with this situation. I frankly do not know in what respect the noble Lord thinks that we have been less than candid in the disclosure of the matters concerned. I should have thought that Parliament knew very well how much money had been spent, and as for the casualties, which we very much regret, these are, as I see daily in the Press, widely reported, and I should have thought were very well known.

LORD MONSON

My Lords, does the noble Viscount not agree that even to think of depriving our fellow citizens of their nationality against their will would be to behave like General Amin?

VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS

My Lords, we simply cannot do it because it would be against the Ireland Act 1949.