HC Deb 25 January 1973 vol 849 cc203-4W
16. Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been dismissed from the Regiment in November 1972, December 1972 and January 1973.

Mr. Blaker

The numbers of men whose discharge from the Ulster Defence Regiment has been recorded in those months are eight, 33 and 82, respectively.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been dismissed because they were members of the Ulster Defence Association;

(2) how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been dismissed because they were members of the Roman Catholic Ex-Servicemen's Association;

(3) how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been requested to resign from the Ulster Defence Association;

(4) how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been requested to resign from the Roman Catholic Ex-Servicemen's Association.

Mr. Blaker

It is not possible to give any of these figures. There is no obligation on a UDR member to tell us whether he belongs to the UDA or the CESA, which are not illegal organisations. We have no guaranteed way of finding out if he is a member and membership of either organisation is not in itself necessarily incompatible with membership of the UDR. Our interest is solely in a UDR member's acceptability for continued service in the regiment. If we believe that this is in question, he is discharged because his services are no longer required.