§ 22. Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on the deployment of the spearhead battalion in Northern Ireland to support the RUC and UDR.
§ Dr. MawhinneyAfter consultation with the Chief Constable and the General Officer Commanding, my right hon. Friend agreed with the Secretary of State for Defence that an additional battalion should be temporarily deployed to Northern Ireland from 26 November 1991 to operate in support of the RUC.
This is a decisive and measured response to the current security situation. It is yet another example of the Government's commitment to provide the security forces with the resources they need to help bring terrorism to an end.