§ Mr. William Rossasked the Prime Minister when Her Majesty's Government last asked the United States Government to release the Ruger pistols and rifles for the Royal Ulster Constabulary which formed part of the order frozen by President Carter in 1979; and when it is intended to raise the matter again.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government have left the United States Administration in no doubt of their view on this matter. It was discussed most recently in June 1981. As far as the future is concerned, as my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland indicated on 25 March, the Royal Ulster Constabulary has adequate and sufficient weapons: any request from the police authority for more weapons or weapons of a different sort will be sympathetically considered.