§ 3. Mr. ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of young people who will benefit from his recently announced travel bursary scheme; and what is the timetable for its implementation.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Dr. Brian Mawhinney)I anticipate that between 24 and 30 young people, selected equally from across the religious divide, will benefit from the Spirit of Enniskillen bursary scheme each year. The first applications will be considered in the autumn of 1988 with the first visits being undertaken in 1989.
§ Mr. ChapmanI thank my hon. Friend for that information and applaud the initiative. Will he tell the House a little more about this unique scheme? What does he hope it will achieve? I hope that it will promote the example and spirit set by Mr. Gordon Wilson in the wake of the horrific tragedy at Enniskillen last year.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe purpose of the scheme is to enable Catholic and Protestant young people to travel together around the world, to learn about each other and to learn how others are living across divides. My hon. Friend mentioned Mr. Wilson. We hope that the awards will be imbued with the spirit of forgiveness that he exemplified and the spirit of coming together evident among the people of Enniskillen after that horrific event. My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that Mr. Gordon Wilson has agreed to be one of the judges in the first year of the award.