§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the military authorities have taken to ascertain that the civil authority in Northern Ireland are unable to deal with the present situation by means of the local police, supplemented by any additional police that could be procured from elsewhere or by the police reserves or special constabulary.
§ Mr. HealeyAs my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary indicated in the House on 21st April—[Vol. 98, c. 32–34.]—the Northern Ireland Government requested the assistance. The question of the use of police and their ability to safeguard the key installations concerned is a matter for them and not for Her Majesty's Government.
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§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether a request for assistance to enforce law and order in Northern Ireland was received from the Inspector General of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and by what authority troops are being used for such purpose.
§ Mr. HealeyI would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's statement in the House on 21st April—[Vol. 98, c. 32–34.]—in which he made it clear that Her Majesty's Government authorised the assistance following a request from the Northern Ireland Government.