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Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 (Specified Organisations) Order 2008

I thank the Minister for his explanation of the order. We have no difficulty in supporting the specification of Óglaigh na hEireann. The Minister recently taught me how to say that and I hope I have got it right. However, we disagree with the despecification of the UDA. It seems as though it is one law for some and another for others. As my honourable friend in the other place says not too infrequently, the UDA has not yet decommissioned even a water pistol. In this House and in the other place, we have been pressing for decommissioning from the loyalists and we have seen them decommission nothing. The Minister quoted from the Independent Monitoring Commission reports. Yes, I read the report of 13 May, but in the report of 1 May 2008 it is made quite clear: "““Overall, in the light of what we have said above, we think that the British Government should revisit the question of the despecification of the UVF””." To me that says, ““We do not think you are right to make this decision to despecify the UVF””. That is where we stand. Are HMG going soft on decommissioning? I would find it surprising if they were, and I sincerely hope that they are not, but it looks a bit like it. This order certainly points in that direction. What is the Government’s position on decommissioning? I would be grateful if the Minister could give me clear reasons for the UVF being despecified and allowed to hang on to its arsenal, particularly as some of its members are trying to acquire more ordnance, as I think it is known these days. It is interesting that my noble friend Lord Trimble was not so long ago of the same view personally—not as a party member—that this is not the right time to despecify the UVF. Certainly, the UVF has made a major statement; certainly, it has moved to some extent in the direction of the real world in which we live; but it has not yet gone far enough. It is still a criminal and potentially terrorist organisation; it still has an organisation; it still has an arsenal of weapons. Why on earth have Her Majesty’s Government decided that they are good boys and girls and can be despecified without any decommissioning? I do not support the order, but as it is a statutory instrument we in this House, unlike at the other end, cannot vote against it. My party voted against it in the other place.