§ 3. Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next expects to meet the officers of the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsI have no immediate plans for a formal meeting.
§ Mr. StallardWhen the Secretary of State next meets the officers of the Northern Ireland Committee will he explain the Government's statement last July that, although unemployment in Northern Ireland was grim, there was a silver lining? Is he aware that since then the problem has reached crisis proportions and is undermining all the attempts of those who are trying to reconcile the two communities? Will he act on the alternatives being proffered by the Northern Ireland Committee?
§ Mr. AtkinsI shall listen to anything that is said to me, but whether I act upon it depends on what it is.
§ Mr. ConcannonIs the Secretary of State aware that when I last met NICICTU three weeks ago it was very depressed by the situation in Northern Ireland and that one reason was that it saw no one fighting its corner for jobs in Northern Ireland? What hope will the Minister give on Monday to the group of trade unionists coming from Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. AtkinsMy hon. Friend met the whole Committee last week and there was a useful exchange of views. I am happy to say that when I talk to the Committee I do not find quite the amount of pessimism that I detect in the right hon. Gentleman.