§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will permit British service personnel invited to give evidence to the Gibraltar coroner at the inquest into the killings of Irish Republican Army members to give evidence; and if such personnel will be legally represented;
(2) how many British service personnel have been interviewed on behalf of the Gibraltar coroner prior to the inquest into the recent killings of Irish Republican Army members; where those personnel were interviewed; and where they are stationed;
(3) what contact the Gibraltar coroner conducting an inquest into the killings of Irish Republican Army members has had with him; what information the coroner 370W has sought about British service personnel; and if the coroner has sought permission to interview such personnel or to require such personnel to give evidence at the inquest.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 12 May 1988]: The Ministry of Defence will co-operate with the coroner's inquest. Any interested parties in a coroner's court may be legally represented if they wish. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 5 May at column 544. A number of service personnel have been interviewed in the course of the police inquiries. I am not prepared to give any further details at this stage.