§ 12. Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the future of Northern Ireland.
§ 15. Mr. Maclennanasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the future of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
§ 16. Mr. Flanneryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is considering any new constitutional proposals for the future of Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PriorThe Government remain of the view that if the people of Northern Ireland are to have a greater say in their own affairs, participation and discussion in the Assembly is the best way forward. It is in the interest of the constitutional parties in Northern Ireland to make the most of the opportunity that the Assembly offers.
§ Mr. ParryDoes the Secretary of State agree that there should be a positive gesture to the minority parties in Northern Ireland to enable them to take part in the democratic processes of the Province?
§ Mr. PriorSuch positive gestures must come from the people of Northern Ireland themselves. Democracy can come about only through the Assembly. That is why the Assembly provides a framework in which all the parties of Northern Ireland, both majority and minority, can try to find accommodation.
§ Mr. MaclennanIn answer to an earlier question on the future of the Assembly the Secretary of State said that it could not continue indefinitely without the support of the two major constitutional parties in the North. How long can it continue?
§ Mr. PriorNot very long unless the constitutional parties take part. That is why I hope they will do so.
§ Mr. FlanneryDoes the Minister realise that unless some political reorganisation takes place the Assembly is clearly a failure, because the minority community regards itself as oppressed—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. If the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron) cannot find a seat on the Front Bench below the Gangway he should go elsewhere.
§ Mr. FlanneryI do not know what hon. Members are laughing at. This is a serious subject.
The minority community will not enter the Assembly because they regard it as an opponent and a place where majority Unionist policy is carried on. The minority do not regard any kind of democracy as useful. Does the Secretary of State realise that 100 years from now our successors will still be debating security unless some kind of political reorganisation takes place in Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. FlanneryThe Minister will have to shout. I cannot hear him.
§ Mr. Prior—if he can convince the SDLP that the Northern Ireland Act 1982 provides the conditions that it needs to take part in the Assembly. As he well knows, there will be no progress towards devolved Government without the consent of the majority of people in Northern Ireland.
§ Sir John Biggs-DavisonIs my right hon. Friend aware that in debates at the University of Cork and at University College Dublin, I successfully defeated a motion in favour of a united Ireland? Does he agree that thinking people in the Republic are coming rapidly to the view that the best basis for good relations between the United Kingdom and the Republic is recognition of the border and recognition of Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. FlanneryOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerNo, I shall not take points of order until afterwards.
§ Mr. FlanneryIt is on this issue. [Interruption].
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I must ask the hon. Member to sit down. I will take points of order immediately after Prime Minister's Question Time.
§ Mr. FlanneryIt is about what has just occurred.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I said that I would take the point of order afterwards.
§ Mr. FlanneryIt will be lost by that time.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I must ask the hon. Gentleman to sit down. We have now reached Prime Minister's Question Time.
§ Sir John Biggs-DavisonOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I said that I would take points of order afterwards.
§ Sir John Biggs-DavisonMy supplementary question has not been answered.
§ Mr. SpeakerHas the answer not been given?
§ Mr. FlanneryIt is disgraceful. We were not heard because of Tory Members.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. FlanneryMy question was not heard. It is your duty to defend me.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman must calm down. He has asked his question. I will take his point of order afterwards.
§ Mr. FlanneryYou should defend Back Benchers.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman had better not say that again.
§ Mr. PriorI hope that more and more people will come to realise the truth of what my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Sir J. Biggs-Davison) has said.