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the nationalist community, and had set.out the many steps which the British Government was taking to that end. He had also made clear that the British Government could not agree either to the disbandment of the UDR or the withdrawal of plastic baton rounds. At the Irish representatives' request, a further conference had been convened under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Agreement for 5 October: this gave a 3-week hiatus and he was using the time to prepare the British position for that meeting with
ssistance from the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the General Officer Commanding, Northern
reland. He would make sure that the Irish Government knew
essence of the British position in advance of the hence so that they did not build up undue expectations of the outcome. Meanwhile, the inquiry by the Deputy Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire into the recent alleged leaks of information from the security forces was making good progress and enjoying excellent cooperation from the security f
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE said that the Prime Minister's recent remarks during her visit to the Ulster Defence Regiment ad done much to boost morale in the regiment.
NF
THE PRIME MINISTER, Sing up a brief discussion, said that it had to be regered that 180 members of the UDR had now been killed by terorists, 149 of them off duty. Lapses in the security could not be condoned. The
1ster, however, was the
heart of the difficulties actions of the terrorists
of whom found refuge in the
Irish Republic. This point had not be overlooked in the discussions at the conferences
ΠΑΙ
cial curity provements
Cethber
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY said that three important improvements in social security arrangements would shortly come into effect. The pensioners' earnings rule would be abolished from the following Baday; changes in National Insurance arrangements from 5October would mean reductions in contributions for some thion employees; and increases in income support and sing benefits for pensioners aged 75 or over or disabled would be implemented on 9 October. An advertising campaig already under way drawing the attention of those to these changes. He would be writing to Parliamentary colleagues shortly to remind them of the changes, from which a substantial number of people stood to benefit considerably.
was
foed
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