HC Deb 12 February 1981 vol 998 cc975-6
6. Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he envisages making any early progress in evolving new political institutions in the Province; and whether he will make a statement.

11. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans any administrative changes in the governing of the Province.

Mr. Humphrey Atkins

The Government continue to seek a transfer of significant powers to locally elected representatives on a basis acceptable to both sides of the community. However, in the present absence of agreement among the Northern Ireland political parties on how those powers should be exercised, I am considering how to improve the existing administrative arrangements for the government of the Province.

Mr. Latham

Following the unsuccessful White Paper initiative, is my right hon. Friend still trying to break the log jam of resentment and suspicion about this matter and to move to a better structure of government in Northern Ireland? Or has he given up initiatives in despair and is settling down to a long period of indefinite direct rule?

Mr. Atkins

No, Sir. The Government have not given up in despair. I propose to remain in close touch with party leaders in Northern Ireland. A long-term answer can come only if the parties in Northern Ireland reach agreement on how the country should be governed and how power could be exercised by locally elected people.

Mr. McNair-Wilson

Can my right hon. Friend see any overriding reason why the current proportion of elected representatives on area boards should not be expanded from their current one-third of the boards?

Mr. Atkins

That matter, and a variety of other matters connected with the governing of the Province are currently engaging my attention.

Mr. James A. Dunn

Does the Secretary of State realise that, unless he solves the problems related to security, the prospect of changing events in the Province are very much diminished. Unless he treats with an equal hand not only the IRA but other terrorist organisations, he will find that faith in his proposals will diminish considerably.

Mr. Atkins

Of course, the security position bears very much upon the matter. That is why I am glad to note that for a number of years the level of violence has been steadily diminishing—which is what everybody wants. It is part of the Government's business to be as even-handed as possible.

Mr. Fitt

Will the Secretary of State be totally honest with the House and say that the search for new political institutions in Northern Ireland has come to a full stop, pending the outcome of the talks now taking place between this Government and the Government of the Republic? Will he confirm that there is no possibility of creating new political institutions in advance of the outcome of those talks? Will he take it from me, in all sincerity, that his Government, and especially the Prime Minister, need to create a great deal more confidence in Northern Ireland that nothing underhand is taking place in the talks? Does he appreciate that the Opposition should be made fully aware of what is happening on political progress in Northern Ireland? Nothing underhand must be done that will support the attitude expressed by the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley).

Mr. Atkins

I would not say that the search for a way forward in improving the government of the Province has come to a full stop. A comma might be more appropriate. I sincerely hope that discussions between this Government and the Government of the Republic will continue on a wide variety of matters for a long time. I hope those discussions will not come to an end, but it would be wrong to say that we should not seek a way forward until they have come to an end.

Mr. Kilfedder

On humanitarian grounds, will the right hon. Gentleman bring forward the date of the local government election on 20 May by at least two months? In that way, the political shenanigans and the slanging match between the Democratic Unionist Party and the Official Unionist Party will cause the least possible damage to Ulster and its people.

Mr. Atkins

I had not thought of that idea. I take note of what the hon. Gentleman has said. I dare say that we shall hear the hon. Gentleman's voice between now and 20 May.

Mr. McCusker

Will the Secretary of State confirm that most of the many people whom he meets as he travels throughout the Province want nothing other than to be governed as their fellow citizens are governed in the rest of the United Kingdom?

Mr. Atkins

That view is held by a number of people, but I am not in a position to say that I believe it to be the majority view.

Forward to