§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many resignations there have been from the Ulster Defence Regiment during the last 12 months.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe numbers are as follows: officers, 16; soldiers, 895.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment did not report for duty during the United Ulster Unionist stoppage; how many of these were suspended from the regiment; and how many were expelled.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownStatistics are not held of those who could not report for duty for valid reasons. Ten men did not have valid reasons, and of these, five610W resigned, four were dismissed, and one was placed on three months' probation.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence why two members of the Ulster Defence Regiment serving in Clogher Deanery were tried during the United Ulster Unionist stoppage and given a period of suspension; why the same men were retried for the same alleged offence and expelled from the regiment; and why a colleague tried with them and found guilty of the same offence was not expelled.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe facts are as set out in my letters, to the hon. Member of 22nd August 1977, 17th October 1977 and 21st February 1978. I should like to make clear, however, that none of the men concerned was tried. They were each interviewed by their commanding officer following their failure to report for duty, as they were statutorily obliged to do, during the call-out of the Ulster Defence Regiment which lasted from 30th April to 14th May 1977. They were subsequently offered and accepted an interview with the Commander of the-Ulster Defence Regiment.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence why an Ulster Defence Regiment member in Clogher who made a malicious telephone call to the police was neither suspended nor expelled.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownI assume that the hon. Member is referring to an incident which took place on 16th February 1978. This incident is the subject of a report submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. It would be improper for me to comment further at this stage.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will order an investigation into the Ulster Defence Regiment in the Clogher area.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownNo.