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Mr. Molyneaux : Can the Minister confirm the suggestion in the Library briefing paper that the new headquarters will be in Ballykinler? Also--this may be dealt with in the regulations--is it the intention to harmonise the housing allowances for full time UDR members with those paid in the Regular Army?

Mr. Hamilton : One of the problems that we have had throughout this debate is the briefing from the House of Commons Library. The Government are not responsible for that briefing, and it is made clear on the front of that document that it is independently produced. I do not think that all the information that it contains is quite accurate including the percentage of Catholics in the Royal Irish Rangers. I cannot give the right hon. Gentleman an undertaking in respect of Ballykinler. Decisions are being made, but no conclusion has yet been reached.

As to help with housing, I do not see a substantial difference from the situation that the UDR enjoys today. Most of its members are not in the same position as those of the Regular Army, who have married quarters, and so on. Fundamentally, we will see much the same terms and conditions of employment as exist today.

A number of right hon. and hon. Members spoke of the gradual decline in the number of part-timers serving in the UDR. In recent years, increasing operational demands have been placed on the regiment and, as a result, the original part-time force has been transformed into one that is half part- time and half full-time, permanent cadre soldiers.

With the gradual increase in the permanent cadre, it appears that the community has increasingly seen the UDR's task as one for full-time, professional soldiers. Fewer part-time recruits have come forward, and there has been a gradual decrease in the strength of the UDR's part-time element. That has occurred through natural wastage over the years, and we expect that trend to continue. There is no policy to cut the number of part -time UDR soldiers.

The UDR's part-time element continues to fulfil an extremely valuable role in supporting the RUC in the fight against terrorism. There are no plans to disband the part-time UDR or to change its role. As I mentioned earlier, we are very grateful for the surge capability that it offers, when it comes to calling up the UDR's part-time element in extreme terrorist situations.

Mr. Kilfedder : Can the Minister give an assurance that there will be advertising in Northern Ireland to encourage people to come forward to serve in a part-time capacity?

Mr. Hamilton : I thought that I had already dealt with that question. We have the same advertising budget as last year. It is aimed at recruiting permanent cadre and part-time UDR members, and will appear in newspapers and on television.

I take the point made by the hon. Member for Antrim, North that people did not join the UDR to become Regular soldiers. When the regiment was formed, its members thought that they were joining a reserve. At the beginning, the percentages were 10 per cent. permanent cadre and 90 per cent. part-timers. The part-timers thought that they would be called up only in an emergency, when the situation got out of hand.

As we know, the situation got out of hand the moment that they joined, and they have been called up ever since.

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Certainly, that is true of the permanent cadre. The regiment has changed as it has developed and has become more and more a professional body. The percentage of permanent cadre has risen, and as time has gone by, the attitude of UDR members has probably altered towards the whole business of being part of the British Army. For that reason, they will be extremely grateful for the opportunities to expand their careers in the British Army that the Bill will make available to them.

On the question of general service battalions serving in Northern Ireland-- my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Sir M. McNair-Wilson) raised this point--the new regiment will have its regular service battalions, which will serve alongside the home service battalions. There is no reason why this should not go on as in the past. I very much commend the Bill to the House, and I hope that members of the Democratic Unionist party will find it possible to support it too.

Question put, That the Bill be now read a Second time :- The House divided : Ayes 127, Noes 5.

Division No. 81] [10 pm

AYES

Alexander, Richard

Amess, David

Amos, Alan

Arnold, Jacques (Gravesham)

Ashby, David

Baker, Nicholas (Dorset N)

Barnes, Harry (Derbyshire NE)

Beaumont-Dark, Anthony

Bellotti, David

Bennett, Nicholas (Pembroke)

Body, Sir Richard

Boswell, Tim

Bottomley, Peter

Bowden, Gerald (Dulwich)

Braine, Rt Hon Sir Bernard

Brazier, Julian

Brooke, Rt Hon Peter

Brown, Michael (Brigg & Cl't's)

Bruce, Ian (Dorset South)

Budgen, Nicholas

Burt, Alistair

Butterfill, John

Campbell, Menzies (Fife NE)

Carlile, Alex (Mont'g)

Carlisle, John, (Luton N)

Carrington, Matthew

Chapman, Sydney

Chope, Christopher

Coombs, Simon (Swindon)

Cormack, Patrick

Cran, James

Cryer, Bob

Davies, Q. (Stamf'd & Spald'g)

Davies, Ron (Caerphilly)

Davis, David (Boothferry)

Devlin, Tim

Dixon, Don

Dunnachie, Jimmy

Ewing, Mrs Margaret (Moray)

Fookes, Dame Janet

French, Douglas

Goodhart, Sir Philip

Goodson-Wickes, Dr Charles

Hamilton, Rt Hon Archie

Hamilton, Neil (Tatton)

Hampson, Dr Keith

Hardy, Peter

Harris, David

Hayes, Jerry

Haynes, Frank

Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael

Howarth, G. (Cannock & B'wd)

Hughes, Robert G. (Harrow W)

Hunt, Sir John (Ravensbourne)

Irvine, Michael

Jack, Michael

Janman, Tim

Jones, Robert B (Herts W)

Jopling, Rt Hon Michael

King, Rt Hon Tom (Bridgwater)

Knapman, Roger

Knight, Greg (Derby North)

Lamond, James

Lang, Rt Hon Ian

Latham, Michael

Lawrence, Ivan

Lewis, Terry

Lightbown, David

Livsey, Richard

Lord, Michael

McAvoy, Thomas

McCartney, Ian

McKay, Allen (Barnsley West)

Maclean, David

McNair-Wilson, Sir Michael

Mahon, Mrs Alice

Mans, Keith

Marshall, Jim (Leicester S)

Martin, David (Portsmouth S)

Maude, Hon Francis

Mawhinney, Dr Brian

Mellor, Rt Hon David

Meyer, Sir Anthony

Miller, Sir Hal

Mills, Iain

Mitchell, Sir David

Moate, Roger

Morrison, Sir Charles

Neubert, Sir Michael

Newton, Rt Hon Tony

Norris, Steve

Page, Richard

Paice, James

Parkinson, Rt Hon Cecil

Powell, Ray (Ogmore)

Reid, Dr John

Riddick, Graham

Ridley, Rt Hon Nicholas

Shaw, David (Dover)

Shersby, Michael

Skinner, Dennis

Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield)

Snape, Peter

Speller, Tony

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