§ Mr. Pounderasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many applications from Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland wishing to join the Ulster Defence Regiment have been accepted, and how many have been rejected, up to 1st May;
(2) how many applications to join the Ulster Defence Regiment have been received, up to 1st May, from Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland;
(3) how many applications from members of the Ulster Special Constabulary wishing to join the Ulster Defence Regiment have been accepted, and how many have been rejected, up to 1st May;
(4) how many applications to join the Ulster Defence Regiment have been received, up to 1st May, from members of the Ulster Special Constabulary;
104W(5) what is the total number of applications received, up to 1st May, of those wishing to join the Ulster Defence Regiment.
§ Mr. Hattersley:At 1st May, 1970, 5,982 applications to join the Ulster Defence Regiment had been received, including 2,762 from former members of the Ulster Special Constabulary and 1,254 from Roman Catholics. So far, 3,702 applications had been accepted, including 2,106 from former members of the Ulster Special Constabulary and 657 from Roman Catholics; 655 applications had been rejected, including 203 from former members of the Ulster Special Constabulary and 193 from Roman Catholics.