§ 8. Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent consultations he has had with representatives of political parties in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. PriorSince I last answered questions I have met the leaders of the Ulster Unionist party, the Democratic Unionist party and the Social Democratic and Labour party and other elected representatives from the constitutional parties in Northern Ireland.
§ Sir John Biggs-DavisonSince legislative devolution does not appear to be imminent, will my right hon. Friend share with the House the result of his consideration of the proposals of the Ulster Unionist party for administrative devolution?
§ Mr. PriorThe Ulster Unionist party has not put forward to me firm proposals on devolution. Therefore, I am not in a position to share them with the House. If parties have views that they wish to put to me in a formal way they are always welcome to do so, but the right place for these discussions to take place to start with is in the Assembly.
§ Mr. McNamaraWas it not the Stormont Administration that caused the trouble in the 60s and before? Will the right hon. Gentleman be very careful when he talks in terms of administrative devolution, because that might be a backdoor way of returning to the awful practices of old?
§ Mr. PriorThese are very much the sorts of problems that there are in this and other proposals. That is why they need to be discussed in the Assembly. They need to secure a degree of cross-community support or, in other words, widespread acceptance.