§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence who authorised the recent survey of Protestant homes by the Army in the Lurgan and Portadown areas; if he will list the number and content of the questions on the questionnaire concerning the hon. Member for Antrim, North and the recent Irish Republican Army march through the Waterside, Londonderry; how many Protestants were questioned; what was the result of the survey; whether the information has now been stored away by Army intelligence; and what use will be made of it.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown:The decision to prepare a list of questions on the events in Londonderry on 8th October was made by an NCO who misunderstood a suggestion from his superior officer that the subject might make a suitable talking point for soldiers in Lurgan chatting to local residents in the course of their normal duties. The list contained six questions on the events in Londonderry and on those involved in them. About 60 people were approached. They were not asked for their names and addresses or for their religion so it is impossible to say how many were Protestants. Once the fact that such questioning was going on came to the notice of the CO of the unit, he held a meeting with local councillors, who had complained about the practice, at the end of which the lists of questions and replies were destroyed in their presence. None of the information, therefore, was kept by the Army so no use can be made of it.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown:The decision to prepare a list of questions on the events in Londonderry on 8th October was made by an NCO who misunderstood a suggestion from his superior officer that the subject might make a suitable talking point for soldiers in Lurgan chatting to local residents in the course of their normal duties. The list contained six questions on the events in Londonderry and on those involved in them. About 60 people were approached. They were not asked for their names and addresses or for their religion so it is impossible to say how many were Protestants. Once the fact that such questioning was going on came to the notice of the CO of the unit, he held a meeting with local councillors, who had complained about the practice, at the end of which the lists of questions and replies were destroyed in their presence. None of the information, therefore, was kept by the Army so no use can be made of it.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons, other than officers seconded: (a) transferred into the Ulster Defence Regiment from the Regular forces, and (b) went into the Ulster Defence Regiment immediately, or very soon after finishing their term with the Regular forces; of these, how many were born in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, respectively; which branches of the Ulster Defence Regiment they entered; and how many joined the full-time platoons of the Ulster Defence Regiment.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown:122 soldiers have transferred directly into the UDR 79W from the regular Army. Of these, 77 were English, 34 Irish, 10 Scottish and 1 Welsh. They all joined the full time element of the UDR which is not broken down into branches. Detailed information on those recruits who joined the UDR after having completed engagements in the regular Forces could not be obtained without disproportionate effort.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence if members of the Regular forces who transfer to the Ulster Defence Regiment before their normal period of service is complete have the right to resign from the regiment on the same terms as those who join direct from civilian life; and, if so, how many have left the armed forces by this means.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown:Soldiers of the regular Army who transfer to the UDR before their normal periods of service are complete have the same rights to resign from the regiment as those who join direct from civilian life. Twelve have done so.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Ulster Defence Regiment and the Royal Ulster Constabulary to have a direct radio link in all parts of Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown:There are already satisfactory radio links between UDR company and battalion headquarters and local RUC control rooms throughout the Province.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to recruit in Northern Ireland officers for full-time duty with the Ulster Defence Regiment only.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown:Officers are already recruited in Northern Ireland for full-time duty with the Ulster Defence Regiment.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to have the Ulster Defence Regiment operating once more in the Strathfoyle estate, County Londonderry; when such operations ceased; why they ceased; and what was the last date on which the Ulster Defence Regiment carried out duties in that estate.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown:The UDR has never stopped patrolling the Strathfoyle 80W estate. The most recent patrol was carried out during 13th November 1978.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Ulster Defence Regiment once more to carry out duties in the Waterside area of Londonderry city; when the Ulster Defence Regiment last carried out duties there; and why they ceased such duties.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown:The UDR operates in the Waterside whenever the local regular Army commander considers it necessary. It most recently carried out duties there on 16th November 1978.
Mr. Wm Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Ulster Defence Regiment once more to carry out duties in the Glen estate, Londonderry; when the Ulster Defence Regiment last carried out patrols or other duties there; and why such duties ceased.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown:The UDR does not patrol the Glen estate regularly because there is a greater operational need for it elsewhere. The estate is well covered by other units, though the UDR operates there whenever necessary. For example, it patrolled the area in August.
Mr. Wm Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Ulster Defence Regiment once more to carry out duties in the area of Londonderry city west of the River Foyle; when the Ulster Defence Regiment last carried out patrol and other duties there; and why such duties ceased.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown:The UDR continues to carry out duties in that area of Londonderry City west of the Foyle, most recently on 6th, 7th and 8th November.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many patrols of the Ulster Defence Regiment have operated in the rural area between the built-up area of Londonderry city west of the River Foyle and the United Kingdom frontier from 1st to 23rd November 1978; and how many patrols were carried out in the same period in 1977.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown:In the rural area between Londonderry city and the border, eight patrols took place in the period 1st to 25th November 1978, two 81W fewer than in the same period last year because of the heavy UDR commitment in Londonderry city itself on 6th, 7th and 8th November.
Mr. Wm Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ulster Defence Regiment patrols have operated in the rural area surrounding the Waterside area of Londonderry from 1st to 23rd November 1978; and how many Ulster Defence Regiment patrols were carried out in the same period in the previous year.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown:The UDR now carries out the majority of patrols in the rural area surrounding the Waterside. In the period 1st to 23rd November 1978 it has had 20 patrols in the area compared with seven in the same period last year.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence why members of the Ulster Defence Regiment are now used for guard duty at the Clooney camp; why the use of Ulster Defence Regiment for this duty has expanded since the regiment was concentrated in it; and when he expects the practice to cease and the regiment to return to patrol duties.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown:The UDR is used for the guard at Clooney camp because it is based there. It shares this duty with the regular Army unit with whom it is collocated and will continue to do so. Its guard commitment in its new base is less than at Duncreggan camp. At the same time, of course, the regiment continues to carry out
Pres byterian Church of Ireland Church of England Methodist Baptist Roman Catholic Quaker 1971 … … … 3 — — — — 2 — 1972 … … … 6 10 1 3 — 5 1 1973 … … … 1 5 1 — — 1 — 1974 … … … 3 4 — — — — — 1975 … … … 2 4 — — — — — 1976 … … … 7 7 1 — — — — 1977 … … … 6 7 — — — 1 — 1978* … … … 4 2 — — — — — Totals … … … 32 39 3 3 — 9 1 * To 23rd November.