asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the dates on which letters from the hon. Member for Southend, East relating to the case of ex-Captain F. Holroyd of Flat 1,314 Station road, Westcliff on Sea, Essex, were received by his Department, the dates on which meetings with Ministers on the case took place, and of any other representations or discussions which took place between the hon. Member and representatives of his Department on the case; and if he will make a statement.

Letters relating to the case of Captain (Retd) F. Holroyd were received from my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) on the following dates:

• 6 February 1986
• 19 March 1986
• 30 March 1986
• 17 April 1986
• 21 May 1986
• 18 June 1986
• 25 June 1986
• 27 June 1986
• 23 July 1986
• 22 September 1986
• 12 November 1986
• 19 November 1986
• 3 December 1986
• 4 February 1987
• 24 February 1987

I had meetings with my hon. Friend on 17 June, 8 July and 28 October 1986, when he spoke to me in his capacity as a Member of Parliament seeking to represent Captain (Retd) Holroyd's views. I am not aware of any other representations or discussions between my hon. Friend and representatives of the Ministry of Defence.The various allegations made by Captain (Retd) Holroyd and Mr. Colin Wallace over many years about the conduct of the security forces in Northern Ireland have been fully and carefully investigated since they left the Province in 1975. No evidence has been discovered as a result of these investigations to substantiate any of their allegations. The Government do not consider the public interest requires legal action to be taken to restrain the publication of such allegations.