Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (Amnesty Period) Order 2006

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have taken part in this short debate. I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Laird—I am sure that I have the unanimous support of all Members of the House—that all weapons must and should be decommissioned. I say to the noble Lord, Lord Glentoran, and the noble Baroness, Lady Harris, that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State has had some very useful discussions with representatives of UPRG and the PUP who represent the two main loyalist paramilitary organisations—the UDA and the UVF respectively. Work with these two groups is ongoing with a view to helping them make the transition from conflict to peace. I say to the noble Baroness, Lady Harris, that the LVF has been in contact informally through an intermediary. Decommissioning is, of course, a crucial feature of the transition and the IICD reports that the UDA and, albeit indirectly, the LVF are in contact with it, though the UVF has yet to re-engage. Both Ministers and officials will continue to press them on the point but in parallel with that it is essential that we continue to provide the statutory framework necessary to make decommissioning a necessity. The noble Lord, Lord Glentoran, raised the differences between the IMC and IICD over arms retained by the IRA. Both organisations have flagged up the decommissioning issue. The IICD, whose responsibility the arms issue is, has reviewed its September assessment and stands by it. If information emerges which casts doubt on that assessment, it will doubtless revisit it. The IMC noted in its report that the IICD had provided a further report to the two Governments and said that it would examine any implications for its own work during the coming period. That is an entirely sensible position. As John Grieves said on Thursday, the IMC and IICD have different tasks, different perspectives, and hence different ranges of contacts and matters to consider. I say to the noble Lord, Lord Glentoran, and the noble Baroness, Lady Harris, that the chief constable confirmed that PSNI had discharged its duties properly—as it was required to do—in respect of both organisations, as have others. Then judgments have been made. He reaffirmed his assessment that there is no intelligence evidence to suggest that PIRA has any intention of going back to any form of armed struggle. The chief constable also repeated the point that for him the mindset was more important than any decommissioning, albeit decommissioning was important for other reasons. Decommissioning is, of course, a crucial feature of transition. The IICD reports that the UDA and, albeit indirectly, the LVF, are in contact. Ministers will continue to press all those concerned on these issues. Noble Lords raised their concerns about organised crime and exiling—a matter which has been stressed by many Members of your Lordships’ House on many occasions. We acknowledge the importance of that matter. Our position as a Government is clear—it must stop. The security forces will continue to bear down on it. I have tried to answer all the questions that were raised although I may not have answered one or two, in which case I will write to the noble Lords concerned. On Question, Motion agreed to.