Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list 671W the occasions during the last 10 years when senior army officers requested permission or authority from the Northern Ireland Office to open fire on crowds or mobs; and what were the circumstances surrounding each such occasion, including the names of the streets or rural area where each incident occurred.
§ Mr. MasonThe decision to open fire in any particular case is an operational matter to be determined by the local commander on the ground in the light of the circumstances and subject to the standing instructions drawn up for the guidance of the security forces.