§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of State for Defence how many men have been detained by the Army in each of the months August, September and October on the basis of suspicion of being a member of the Irish Republican Army, how many of these have subsequently been tried, how many released and how many interned.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithThe grounds of suspicion upon which the Army may be requested to assist the civil power by making arrests under the Special Powers Acts are a matter for the Northern Ireland authorities, as are the subsequent detention, internment, trial, or release of persons so arrested.
§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of State for Defence how many houses have been searched in Northern Ireland by the Army in each month of 1971.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithI regret that information could not be made available in the form requested without disproportionate effort. The available information is as follows, covering both occupied and unoccupied houses:
Guns Rounds of Ammunition Pounds of Explosive 1st January–9th August … … 192 40,054 1,194 9th August–8th September … … 54 7,897 504 8th September–6th October … … 60 2,187 552½ 6th–27th October … … 42 9,497 117½ Total … … 348 59,635 2,368
§ Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will arrange for soldiers serving in Northern Ireland to be enabled to make a limited number of weekly telephone calls to their families, free of charge.
M. G. Johnson SmithMy hon. Friend will be aware that some forty additional coin-operated telephone boxes have now been installed in unit lines for use by soldiers serving in Northern Ireland. We are seeing whether anything more can be done although, pending examination of the matter, it would not be right for me to raise any false hopes.
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1st January–9th August 8,162 9th August–8th September 1,480 8th September–6th October 1,363 6th–27th October 1,342 Total 12,347
§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will arrange with the security forces to reorganise road blocks in Northern Ireland so that motorists while waiting in a queue of cars at a road block are unable to make a U-turn and go back in the direction in which they have come, or alternatively go down a side road.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithWhenever possible road blocks are sited to make evasion difficult. When road blocks are set up for specific search operations, troops are provided in sufficient numbers to cover the approach route and ensure that no vehicle can avoid the search.
Mr. StrattonMills asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will list the total number of guns, ammunition, and explosives found by the security forces in each of the months July, August, September, and October.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithI regret that the information could not be made available in the form requested without disproportionate effort. The available information is as follows.
§ Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Minister of State for Defence what estimate he has formed of the number of shots fired at the security forces in Northern Ireland from across the border in the week before 21st October; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. G. Johnson Smith300–350 in four incidents between 14th and 21st October, 1971, inclusive. Troops returned fire on two of these occasions, firing 160 rounds in all, in accordance with the instructions to which I referred in my Answer to the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills) on 21st October, 1971.—[Vol. 823, c.158.]
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§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of State for Defence on how many occasions during July, August, September and October the Army has been fired on in Northern Ireland; and on how many occasions it has returned the fire.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithI regret that the information is not available without disproportionate effort. Figures since 8th September are as follows:
incidents of shooting at the Army Incidents when the Army replied 8th September–6th October 245 102 6th–28th October 241 108
§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister or State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which the Army was called to the Students Union, Belfast, on 19th October.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithAt approximately 10.30 p.m. troops were requested, in aid of the civil power, to accompany and support officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, who I understand wished to interview Mr. Thomas McGill.
It was decided not to pursue Mr. McGill or the students—who numbered about 150—when they barricaded themselves in the building. and the security forces withdrew at about 4 a.m.