HC Deb 23 November 1971 vol 826 cc1133-5
Q6. Mr. Pounder

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an early official visit to Northern Ireland.

The Prime Minister

I have at present no plans to visit Northern Ireland but should be glad to do so at an opportune time.

Mr. Pounder

I appreciate that answer from my right hon. Friend, but does he not realise that there is a strong and a growing view in Northern Ireland that a visit by him would be beneficial? No- body is asking for any dramatic statement arising out of such a visit, but if he would come and see the serious situation there for himself it would be greatly appreciated.

The Prime Minister

Yes; I will certainly take that point into account.

Mr. Thorpe

The Prime Minister said that he would be prepared to visit Northern Ireland at an opportune time. What does he mean by "opportune"?

The Prime Minister

I should have thought that the right hon. Gentleman would realise that there are a very large number of considerations to be taken into account before a British Prime Minister makes a visit to Northern Ireland. I think that the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition when he was Prime Minister recognised the nature of these considerations. I am merely stating that when I consider that the balance is right I shall be prepared to visit Northern Ireland.

Mr. Duffy

In view of the sterling example set him last week by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition, does not the Prime Minister think that it is now incumbent on him to pay a visit to both parts of Ireland at the earliest opportunity?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir; I do not take that view. The Leader of the Opposition made his own decision, and we gave him every assistance we could to ensure that his visit was valuable. I have had a meeting with the Prime Ministers of Northern Ireland and of Eire, something which had not happened for 50 years. I believe that that was the right way to go about matters.

Mr. Harold Wilson

In view of the supplementary question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Duffy), may I ask the Prime Minister whether he saw the report that when I was asked, both in Dublin and in Belfast, about a possible visit by him, I took the view that this was a matter for the Prime Minister and that my own visit had nothing to do with that?

Is the Prime Minister aware that from what I saw in Northern Ireland, about which I hope to speak in the debate on Thursday, I emphatically endorse what he said about the decision, which he must take for himself—because there are many questions to take into consideration before such a decision could be taken?

The Prime Minister

Yes. I noticed the right hon. Gentleman's remarks, which I appreciated.