§ 23. Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence how many weapons issued to members of the Ulster Defence Regiment in Belfast, and in each of the six counties in Northern Ireland, have been reported lost, mislaid, or stolen this year.
§ Mr. BlakerOne hundred and ninety-three weapons issued to members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been lost or stolen during 1972, of which 76 were subsequently recovered. Of these, 130 were lost as a result of raids on armouries or duty posts.
Following are the detailed figures:
Belfast 26 County Antrim 1 County Armagh 125 County Londonderry 14 County Down 13 County Fermanagh 1 County Tyrone 13 Of the 76 weapons subsequently recovered, 68 were recovered from Armagh and eight from elsewhere.
§ 35. Mr. McMasterasked the Minister of State for Defence how many soldiers are at present stationed in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. BlakerWhen current moves are completed, there will be about 16,500 Regular troops and also about 9,200 members of the Ulster Defence Regiment in Northern Ireland.
§ 36. Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence what instructions are given to members of the Ulster Defence Regiment concerning membership of the Ulster Defence Association.
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§ Mr. BlakerAll members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been reminded that it is a non-sectarian force and have been informed that if a soldier's sympathy for the Ulster Defence Association, Catholic Ex-Servicemen's Association or any similar organisation is strong enough to effect the performance of his military duties or to call in question his future loyalty or his complete impartiality, he will be discharged. The number of men who might be involved is not expected to be large.
§ 39. Mr. Kilfedderasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the present arrangements whereby the Eire authorities notify the Army of movements of the Irish Republican Army on the border; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourClose co-operation between the security forces on both sides of the border is most desirable in the interests if preventing cross-border terrorism. The RUC and the Army do, of course, maintain contact with the appropriate authorities in the Republic of Ireland, and Her Majesty's Government are always ready to discuss in practical terms any new arrangements for improving cross-border liaison.
§ 40. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Minister of State for Defence what consideration he has given to expanding the rôle of the Ulster Defence Regiment to enable it to undertake policing duties along the border and in the country areas of Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. BlakerThe UDR is already actively engaged, in border and rural areas, in support of the Regular forces. These duties do not involve any change of rôle for the regiment.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence what is his estimate of the number of Ulster Defence Regiment members who are also members of the Ulster Defence Association.
§ Mr. BlakerNo precise estimate can be made but the number is believed to be small. With regard to the guidance given to members of the Ulster Defence Regiment about membership of the Ulster Defence Association, I refer the hon.180W Lady to the answer which I gave to her other Question on this matter today.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence whether investigations into involvement of members of the Ulster Defence Regiment in recent terrorist activities in counties Deny and Tyrone have been completed; and what is the result of these investigations.
§ Mr. BlakerAll the matters which the hon. Member raised in her letter to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in September have been thoroughly investigated. As she was informed by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Northern Ireland in his letter dated 20th October, 1972, no evidence has been found of collusion over the thefts of weapons from 8 UDR or that Ulster Defence Regiment personnel were involved in the 11 shooting incidents in the Coagh area in question or in the incidents on 13th and 27th February and 23rd March. Investigations have shown that there was no collusion between the Ulster Defence Regiment and those who set up the illegal road block on 21st August.