§ Mr. McManusasked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the Tynan Platoon of the former B-Specials are now members of the Ulster Defence Regiment.
§ Mr. G. Johnson Smith:Two.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence (1) under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was called to a house in Queen Street, Londonderry, used by the Royal Ulster Constabulary, after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion early on Monday, 14th June; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made;
(2) under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was called to Unity Flats, Belfast, early on Monday, 14th June, after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion in a shop used by the Army; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests have been made;
(3) under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was called to Academy Street, Belfast, early on Saturday, 12th June, after an explosion; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made;
(4) under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was called to examine 119W the College of Art, Belfast, early on Saturday, 12th June, after it had been damaged by an Irish Republic Army bomb; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made;
(5) under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was called to examine Hastings Street Royal Ulster Constabulary Station after it had been bombed early on Thursday morning, 10th June; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made;
(6) under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was called to examine the rear of Springfield Road Royal Ulster Constabulary Station, Belfast, after a bomb attack on Thursday afternoon, 10th June; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made;
(7) under what circumstances an Army expert was called to examine Lurgan Royal Ulster Constabulary Station, Northern Ireland after an explosion early on Friday, 11th June; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made;
(8) under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was called to examine Killeen Customs Post, Newry, Northern Ireland after the customs officers had been ordered out at the point of the gun by Irish Republican Army members and the building damaged by a bomb on Saturday night, 12th June; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made;
(9) under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was called to examine two cars after an explosion outside Armagh Prison, Northern Ireland, early on Thursday morning, 10th June; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithOn the occasion of each explosion Army technical experts made the appropriate safety and forensic searches, which revealed that charges varying in weight from 2 ounces to about 20 lb. had been used. No arrests in connection with these explosions have so far been made, and responsibility for them has yet to be established.
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§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence (1) under whose order an Army officer gave an assurance to the Roman Catholic priest of Dungiven, Northern Ireland, that the annual Orange parade which had taken place there for 11 years would be banned before statutory notice of the parade had been given to the Royal Ulster Constabulary;
(2) under whose orders an Army officer requested the Roman Catholic priest of Dungiven, Northern Ireland, to publish in his parish news sheet the fact that the Orange parade would not take place before an application for such a parade had been made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithNo such assurance was given and no such request made by the Army.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence, in view of the second bombing of Killeen Customs Post, Northern Ireland, if he will ensure that in the future proper security measures to protect customs posts in Northern Ireland will be taken.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithThe appropriate security measures will continue to be taken with regard to installations in Northern Ireland.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence why an Army sentry did not open fire when he saw an Irish Republican Army member hurl a duffel-bag bomb at Springfield Road Royal Ulster Constabulary Station, Belfast, on Thursday afternoon, 10th June.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithDuring the incident, responsibility for which has not yet been established, the sentry was not in a position which enabled him to open fire on the bomb thrower.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army opened fire in Vernon Street, Belfast, on Sunday morning, 13th June; what was the result of their firing; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithFire was opened at three men after a bomb was thrown at a military patrol. A club was subsequently searched and three men were arrested.
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§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances Army patrols were fired on as they made their way to the scene of an explosion outside Armagh Prison, Northern Ireland early on Thursday morning, 10th June; if the fire was returned: what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithA single shot was returned in response to shots believed to have been aimed at, but which did not hit, two Army vehicles travelling to Armagh. A search of the area was carried out but so far no arrests have been made.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence (1) how much gas was used against Orangemen by the Army in Dungwen, Northern Ireland, on Sunday, 13th June;
(2) what sort of gas was used against Orangemen in Dungiven, Northern Ireland, by the Army on Sunday, 13th June;
(3) how many rubber bullets were fired by the Army at Orangemen in Dungiven, Northern Ireland, on Sunday, 13th June;
(4) why no warning was given when gas was used against Orangemen by the Army in Dungiven, Northern Ireland, on Sunday, 13th June, resulting in policemen being overcome by its effects before being able to don their masks.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithAfter warning, a small amount of CS smoke, sufficient to control the situation, was used. It was also necessary to fire a small number of rubber baton rounds.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence why Hasting Street Royal Ulster Constabulary Station, Belfast, which is used by the First Battalion Royal Green Jackets and which was bombed before by Irish Republican Army terrorists, had no security guard on Thursday morning, 10th June, when it was extensively damaged by another Irish Republican Army terrorist bomb attack.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithSecurity improvements to this station, which would have permitted the deployment of an armed guard, were still under construction when the incident occurred, respon-122W sibility for which has yet to be established.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will ensure that in the future the Army in Northern Ireland will not indicate to anyone its findings or recommendations in regard to the banning of parades.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithArmy procedures on this matter will continue to have regard to the requirements of the relevant public order Acts.