§ 14. Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many border crossings in South Armagh remain open; how many have been illegally re opened; how many have been closed by the security forces in the past month, the past nine months, and the years 1974, 1973 and 1972, respectively; and what is the present Government policy on border closures.
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§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThirty-nine border crossings are at present open. No crossings were closed in 1972 or 1973; 5 were closed in 1974; and 13 have been closed in 1975, including one in November. Eight crossings have been reopened illegally in the past three months. The policy of the security forces is to close unapproved crossings wherever they are satisfied that the security situation requires it.
§ 19. Mr. Budgenasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfield that public officials can operate adequately in South Armagh.
§ Mr. ConcannonGovernment services continue to be provided in South Armagh.
§ 20. Mr. Matherasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members or former members of the UDR have been attacked in South Armagh; how many have been injured; and how many killed in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively.
§ Mr. MoyleSouth Armagh is within the operational area of two UOR battalions. One member was killed in South Armagh in 1973, none in 1974, and four to the present time in 1975. Statistics of injuries to members of the battalions are kept only for the whole of County Armagh and these comprise 15 terrorist attacks on members, two of whom were injured in 1972, 11 terrorist attacks and one injured in 1973, no attacks in 1974, and 15 attacks and one injured in 1975. No statistics are available for attacks on former members after they have left the battalion.
§ 22. Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy with regard to releasing from detention suspected terrorists from South Armagh.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesSince August 1971, 10 from South Armagh have been detained. The last of these was released on 31st December 1974.
§ 23. Mr Pattieasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been arrested in connection 679W with terrorism in South Armagh; and how many have been convicted in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively.
§ Mr. OrmeAs I said in my statement on 24th November, 30 persons had been charged with terrorist-type offences in South Armagh since 1st August. Figures for offences and convictions for the four-year period referred to in the Question cannot readily be extracted for the South Armagh area, which overlaps three police divisions. I am, however, having some further analysis made and will inform the hon. Member. Statistics for arrests alone are not kept by the police.
§ 25. Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many terrorist incidents in South Armagh this year the security forces have reported the escape of suspects across the border.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI cannot give accurate information for this, but in a number of terrorist incidents in South Armagh this year terrorists are thought to have escaped across the border. There is close co-operation with the Republic of Ireland in dealing with such incidents.
§ 26. Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is aware that tradesmen and travellers in South Armagh require the permission of the Provisional IRA to move and do business; and what he intends to do about this situation.
§ Mr. ConcannonSuch allegations have been made and are being investigated by the RUC.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the results of the limited military operation of 10th-11th October in South Armagh.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army to a Question from the hon. Member for Down, North (Mr. Kilfedder) on 17th October 1975.—[Vol. 897, c.819.]
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attacks there have been in the current year on public servants and local government 680W officials, and their officers, in South Armagh.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesA head post master was shot dead on 24th March 1975 when investigating a burglary at Silver-bridge Post Office and a person appointed by the Northern Ireland Office from a private firm to adjust a claim for criminal injuries compensation had his car hijacked near Cullaville.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employment exchanges are open for business in South Armagh.
§ Mr. OrmeThe South Armagh area is served by employment service offices and social security offices in Newry and the city of Armagh. These offices are open as normal. In addition, there are four sub-offices in South Armagh located at Keady, Crossmaglen, Forkhill and Newtownhamilton which are open on one half day per week as normal.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons from South Armagh have been brought before the courts on criminal and terrorist charges, respectively, in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, to date, respectively.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesWith regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given today to a question from the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton (Mr. Pattie). Three hundred and one persons were charged with criminal offences and brought before a court in this area in 1972, 265 in 1973, 252 in 1974 and 338 so far in 1975.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many summonses for motoring offences have been issued in South Armagh; how many served; how many prosecutions have followed; and how these compare with other parts of Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. MoyleSince 1st January 1975 276 summonses for motoring offences have been issued in South Armagh. Two hundred and twenty-five of these have been served, and there have been prosecutions in every case; 51 summonses have still to be served against persons living 681W in England. To make a realistic comparison with other parts of Northern Ireland would involve consideration of density of population, density of traffic per head of population using the roads and other factors involving disproportionate time and effort.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many motor vehicles were stolen, and how many hijacked, in South Armagh this year to date.
Mr. Merlyn-ReesFrom 1st January 1975 to 26th November 1975 52 vehicles were stolen and 19 vehicles hijacked in the South Armagh area.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will publish the roll of honour of members of the security forces murdered by terrorists in South Armagh, and of those injured there by terrorist action, during the present troubles.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.