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invaluable aid to the Regular Services.
men.
46. During 1974 the Regular force level was reduced from 16 to 13
major units in the infantry role and now consists of about 14,000
There were temporary reinforcements on a number of
occasions, for example in May 1974 during the Ulster Workers'
Council strike, and twice in October 1974 during the "nited Kingdom
General Election and after the burning of the Maze prison. During
the Ulster Workers' Council strike, reinforcements enabled the Army
to take over and run on a limited scale the supply of petrol and
fuel oils. A total of 51 major units in the infantry role served
in Northern Ireland during 1974 and seven of these were on their
fifth tour.
47. The Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act, which came
into force in August 1973, provides limited powers for soldiers to
stop, question, search and arrest. It has been renewed until
July 1975 to enable full consideration to be given to the recommenda-
tions of the Gardiner Committee (Cmnd. 5847) and any subsequent
legislation to be enacted.
DEFENCE AND RESOURCES
The Law of the Sea Conference
48. The Third United Nations Law of the Sea Conference, which
•
opened in New York in December 1973, 18 concerned with a number
II -19
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