§ Q3. Mr. Pardoeasked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Northern Ireland.
§ The Prime MinisterVisits to Northern Ireland are not announced in advance.
§ Mr. PardoeMay I ask the Prime Minister to discard any gratuitous personal insults which he may have been asked to utter on this occasion by his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and accept that I am not calling for the immediate withdrawal of British troops? Will he instead recall that in his own book he stated his marked reluctance to commit troops in the first place, precisely because he feared that that commitment would become permanent? Does he recognise that the very permanence of our commitment may be persuading some of the politicians in Northern Ireland that they do not need to make the compromises necessary for a political settlement?
§ The Prime MinisterI am glad to hear that the hon. Gentleman is not calling for the withdrawal of British troops. That is helpful in existing circumstances. Otherwise, comfort is given to those who believe that violence can achieve what reason will not achieve. As regards the veto power—I think that that would be the correct way of summing up the hon. Gentleman's words—I realise that the present posture means that we may not make any progres on constitutional reform in Northern Ireland. My right hon. Friend 1474 the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is doing things in the best possible way, by having a series of discussions with all of the parties. It remains our strong policy that, as soon as it is possible to achieve any measure of acquiescence and agreement, we shall be happy to introduce constitutional reforms into Northern Ireland to enable both communities to take part in an acceptable form of government.
§ Mr. McNamaraDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that the recent decisions of the Government, such as that concerning the legislation which I understand we are to discuss next week dealing with extra seats, makes the majority in Northern Ireland even more intransigent when it comes to making any concession whatever to the declared policy of the Government and the party?
Should we not look carefully at that type of legislation and possibly, even at this late stage, withdraw it?
§ The Prime MinisterThis legislation arises from a recommendation by Mr. Speaker's Conference, which I believe was unanimous or almost unanimous. It is always the Government's responsibility and practice to carry out such legislation. I quite realise that my hon. Friend may take the view that the legislation would make the majority more intransigent. However, that would be a short-sighted way of approaching this issue on the part of the majority. The events of the past 10 years have made the majority realise more and more that the minority community must be integrated into the affairs of the Province.
§ Mr. PowellIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that when he next visits that Province he will be gratified to find an increase in public confidence throughout the community? Is he further aware that he will note the successful recruitment of all the security forces, which is making it possible for the Army to play more of a proper part in the security of the Province and for the security in practice to be taken over by the police and the UDR?
§ The Prime MinisterI am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman, because this is and should be the policy. I am glad to hear that it is being successful. The policy is that the RUC should take the prime 1475 role in security in Northern Ireland with the Army in a supporting role.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has given me details of the number of civilian and Service deaths and injuries in the past 12 months. I am glad to see that, despite the recent explosions, the figures are on a downward path. It looks as if what my right hon. Friend and others have said is true—that the ordinary people in Northern Ireland are sick and tired of the violence. They would like to see some constitutional development but they are prepared to accept the present situation if it means that violence, death and bloodshed can he restrained.
§ Mr. SpeakerPrime Minister—statement.