§ 4. Mr. StottTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to take steps to address the difficulties in respect of parades in Northern Ireland. [1381]
§ 8. Mr. BorrowTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to help reduce tensions over parades in Northern Ireland. [1385]
§ Marjorie MowlamWe have met a number of residents' groups and parades organisers. There is 1131 absolutely no doubt that none of them wants a repeat of what happened at Drumcree last year. The main purpose of the meetings was to listen to all sides and promote the message that the key to resolving the parade issue is accommodation and negotiation. It is only by accommodation and negotiation locally that we shall progress on this issue to avoid the disastrous situation that we had last year. The Government are committed to implementation of the recommendations in the North report on parades, and will introduce legislation in the autumn to achieve that.
§ Mr. StottI, too, congratulate my right hon. Friend on becoming Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. As someone who has been there before, I wish her well in her difficult task. My right hon. Friend may be aware that some Labour Members met the Grand Master of the Orange Lodge in the House of Commons last week. He said that the Orange Order in Portadown had circulated a letter to every resident in the Garvaghy road explaining the nature and origin of the Orange Order match. Will she tell the House whether she believes that the contents of that letter, which explained what the march is about, will go any way towards avoiding the disgraceful and appalling scenes that we saw in Drumcree last year?
§ Marjorie MowlamI thank my hon. Friend for his kind comments. The letter to which he referred, which the Orange Order sent to all the residents of the Garvaghy road, was a positive step. It was helpful to outline its position. It is also helpful that the Garvaghy road residents have reciprocated with a letter, because part of the problem is a misunderstanding and lack of information. What the Orange Order has done is a positive step and a positive statement. However, an agreement is no closer after that exchange of letters. We shall, therefore, intensify our efforts and leave no stone unturned to try to avoid a repeat of the events of last year. The only way to avoid violence and the conflict that we saw last year is through discussion and accommodation between the two communities locally. We shall continue to talk to both sides to achieve that, but, in the end, it is in the hands of local people. I am sure that all constitutional politicians in the House will use their power to try to avoid a repeat of those events.
§ Mr. BorrowI welcome my right hon. Friend's comments. In her main reply, she answered any question that I might have asked as a supplementary. I refer in particular to her welcome for the letters from the Orange Order to the residents of Portadown, and her view that those were helpful, and to the fact that she said that further discussions should take place to bring about a satisfactory solution that would avoid the appalling consequences of the march last year.
§ Marjorie MowlamI thank my hon. Friend for those comments. I simply reiterate the fact that many people, including the Churches, the voluntary sector and the business community, are working in good faith to try to achieve an accommodation. I am sure that in the next three to six weeks everybody will do all they can in Northern Ireland, where the vast majority of the people do not want a repeat of what happened in the Garvaghy road.
§ Mr. William RossIs it not a fact that lawful processions have been stopped only because of the threats of violence, 1132 which had force only because they were backed up by the IRA? Is it not a further fact that, because those threats had such force behind them, the streets were surrendered to the control of the IRA both last year and the year before? What steps does the Secretary of State intend to take to regain and maintain control of the streets this year? Despite what she says, the IRA is intent on ensuring that there is confrontation and violence, and it can bring that about.
§ Marjorie MowlamI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, and repeat that, from our perspective, we shall work with the Royal Ulster Constabulary and, if necessary, the Army, so that the ports and airports are not closed when attempts are made to close them, as happened last year, but, in the end, I do not want to see RUC people caught, as they were at the weekend, when 27 of them were injured. They are often caught in the middle, and we must do all we can to support them
I hope that, in the end, both communities will realise that what we have is a situation of conflicting rights. There is the right to march and parade, which I fully accept, but equally there is a second right—the right to live in freedom, without fear and intimidation. We must reach an accommodation between those conflicting rights in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. MallonI, too, add my voice to the welcome for the Secretary of State and her Ministers. The right hon. Lady will be aware that during and after parades and marches last year, 8,500 plastic bullets were fired. Is she aware of the deep concern about the use of those lethal weapons? Because of that concern, will she inform the House when the then Northern Ireland Ministers knew that a faulty batch was being used, when the Royal Ulster Constabulary knew that it was firing faulty plastic bullets and, above all, when the Northern Ireland police authority knew faulty weapons were being discharged during that period?
§ Marjorie MowlamI thank the hon. Gentleman for that question, and acknowledge to the House the efforts that he has made on that and other issues. As he points out, the issue causes distress to sections of the community; I know it also caused distress to the RUC when its personnel found out that they had been using equipment that was not up to specification.
I shall respond to the hon. Gentleman's three specific questions. As for the Northern Ireland Office and the RUC, I think that the RUC knew on 26 March this year and the Government knew at the beginning of April. I do not know the answer to his question about the police authority, but I shall let the hon. Gentleman know.
§ Mr. HunterHow can negotiations be held about the marches when Sinn Fein places convicted republican terrorists on residents' groups? If the two Governmentsrightly—will not hold discussions with the Provisionals this side of a ceasefire, why should others?
§ Marjorie MowlamI did not hear the beginning of the hon. Gentleman's question. Will he repeat it?
§ Madam SpeakerIt would be a good idea if hon. Members did not cheer the party leaders as they come in. As I have said before, it is time consuming.
§ Mr. HunterIf Sinn Fein places convicted terrorists on residents' groups, how can there be negotiations? The two Governments—rightly—will not talk with Sinn Fein. Is not it unreasonable to expect others to do so?
§ Marjorie MowlamI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. Residents' groups in areas where there have 1133 been difficulties with parades contain a broad mixture of people. He is absolutely right that some are ex-convicts, but that applies to groups representing both sides of the community. I take the point that some people do not want to talk to Sinn Fein members, and we are trying to find ways around that if possible. Whatever the origins or backgrounds of the individuals in residents' groups, there is no doubt that they express the wishes of the nationalist communities in their areas. We have talked to them in great detail, and they represent the nationalists' fears. We must listen to the fears and demands of both communities.
§ Madam SpeakerI hope that the House and Ministers will note that we have dealt with only six questions on the Order Paper today. That is unsatisfactory.