§ Q6. Mr. Brooksasked the Prime Minister whether he will introduce legislation to give independence to Ulster.
§ The prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. BrooksMay I thank my right hon. Friend for a simple answer to a devious Question? Is he aware that there will be great satisfaction on all sides of the House that independence is out of the question, at least until such time as the principle of one man, one vote, is implemented?
§ The Prime MinisterI am not aware that any political group in Northern Ireland or, for that matter, outside it 1822 believes that the Northern Ireland Government have too little power or would gain anything from independence. The view is sometimes expressed in this House that they have too much power. This is dealing with a rather remote contingency.
§ Mr. Stratton MillsWhile acknowledging that the Prime Minister has always acted with constitutional propriety towards Northern Ireland, may I ask if he will confirm that there is a longstanding convention of non-interference in Northern Ireland affairs by the Westminster Government?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. I did say that two years ago. But I think that the hon. Gentleman will agree that there has been widespread concern in more than one part of the House about certain events which have occurred in Northern Ireland. Without departing from the convention, I thought it right to embark on a series of talks with the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland to discuss these questions and, as he knows, I have had two very interesting discussions, and a third will take place in due course.
§ Mr. OrmeIn view of the growing concern over the position in Northern Ireland, will my right hon. Friend reconsider his previous answer about setting up a Royal Commission to take a new look at the 1920 Government of Ireland Act?
§ The Prime MinisterThis question started from giving them independence. Now we are asked to set up a Royal Commission to look into matters which, under the law, are the concern of the Government of Northern Ireland. I think that a Royal Commission would not be appropriate here, but some of my hon. Friends set up a commission themselves recently, went over there and produced a report which I am sure they would wish to make available to the House.
§ Captain OrrIs the Prime Minister aware that the kind of pressure to which he is being subjected from some of his hon. Friends does considerable harm to the cause of better community relationships in Northern Ireland, and that they bear a very heavy responsibility if trouble should follow.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that the House will like the tone of the last few words of the hon. Gentleman's question. I have paid tribute to the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland for the advances which have been made during his Premiership on many of these questions, and he deserves the backing of the whole House for what he has done. There is still acute concern about many questions affecting the functioning of democracy over there.
§ Mr. HeathI welcome the tribute which the right hon. Gentleman has paid to the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland for the work which he is carrying on, and I recognise the importance of the discussions which the two Prime Ministers have had. The right hon. Gentleman has spoken about the constitutional convention of not interfering in the affairs of Northern Ireland. However, what he said two years ago went further than that. He repeated the pledge of Mr. Attlee, as he then was, that there would be no change in the constitutional position of Northern Ireland without the free consent of the people of Northern Ireland. Could the right hon. Gentleman restate that?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is what I said on 6th May, 1965, and I stand by it. Progress will be made not by talking about sweeping changes of this kind but by the sort of progress which we hope to make in our discussions with the Prime Minister and his colleagues. I know that the right hon. Member for Bexley (Mr. Heath) will agree that there is still a long way to go.