Convention (Hansard, 28 November 1974)

§ 3. Mr. Michael Latham
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will now announce the date for the elections to the Convention.

§ 9. Mr. Molyneaux
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the date for the election for the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention.

§ The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Merlyn Rees)
I have nothing to add to my statement to the House on 20th November—[Vol. 881, c. 1325–7]—that elections for the Convention will take place early next year, and that I shall aim to give about a month's notice of the actual date.

§ Mr. Latham
In order to prevent the political scene in Northern Ireland itself from being entirely dominated by self-appointed street leaders, is it not vital to do away with direct rule as soon as possible?

§ Mr. Rees
I am aware of the need to have fresh elections for the Convention. It would have been wrong to have them in the months following the break-up of the Executive. I must take into account the plans which have to be made, but, more important, a judgment has to be made about the political situation. Certainly, early in the new year I hope to announce the date for the Convention elections.

§ Mr. Molyneaux
One appreciates the Secretary of State's difficulties about a timetable, but will he bear in mind the necessity for holding these elections as early as possible? Does he agree that it is essential that the separate security battle should be won in the meantime, so that these elections can take place in a relatively calm and stable atmosphere?

§ Mr. Rees
I am aware of the need to be more precise at the appropriate moment. The hon. Member for Antrim, South (Mr. Molyneaux) is absolutely right: that was the position in April of this year, when some politicians did not want to support the then Assembly and Executive. However, far more important than that was the campaign at that time by the para-militarists, which made political action seem inappropriate to many people in Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. McNamara
My right hon. Friend will recall that last week he said that he was considering taking the initiative in calling together representatives of the existing parties and groups which might put up candidates to discuss with them the problems that might arise within the Convention and the parameters which Her Majesty's Government have laid down as having to be accepted by 601 the leaders within the Convention. Will my hon. Friend inform the House what progress, if any, he has made?

§ Mr. Rees
The Clerk to the Assembly, who, as I said last week and gladly say again, is universally respected in all parts of Northern Ireland, is in touch with party leaders about the running of the Convention. It is appropriate that it should be done in that way. I shall be happy to meet the party leaders in Northern Ireland who are still Members of the Assembly and who are deliberately being paid as such. It was hoped that by taking that course there would still be party leaders to speak to in the intervening period. I should be happy to meet them. This is in no way avoiding the issue that the elections have not yet taken place. I am considering the best way to achieve a meeting.

§ Rev. Ian Paisley
In regard to the right hon. Gentleman's talks with Mr. Blackburn, the Clerk of the former Stormont Parliament, will he tell us what terms of reference he has asked Mr. Blackburn to observe in his discussions with the various party leaders whom he has contacted?

§ Mr. Rees
It has been agreed with the Speaker of the Assembly that Mr. Blackburn, the Clerk to the Assembly—I wish to make it clear that I have no power over the Clerk to the Assembly—will begin work on the planning that has to take place in the early days of the Convention, when these matters are in my control. That in no way alters the fact that the running of the Convention after the first few days will be a matter for the Convention itself. There are a number of matters to decide—for example, small matters such as the question of notepaper for the Convention, and many other practical matters. The example I have given is the smallest matter I could think of. These matters have to be decided, and I thought it a good idea that the party leaders should be consulted on such issues.