HC Deb 20 November 2002 vol 394 cc640-1
Q2. Lady Hermon (North Down)

What plans he has to visit Northern Ireland.

The Prime Minister

I have no immediate plans to do so. I visited Northern Ireland just recently, as the hon. Lady knows.

Lady Hermon

I thank the Prime Minister for that response. I also thank him for his frequent visits to Northern Ireland and still hope that he will come to North Down, the centre of the universe.

Given the Government's renewed commitment, which I welcome, to the full implementation of the Belfast agreement, will the Prime Minister confirm that the principle of equality of opportunity, which is guaranteed and enshrined in the agreement, will be extended to police recruits and police support staff, instead of recruiting by religious discrimination? Surely, as the Prime Minister himself said in Belfast recently—

Mr. Speaker: Order.

The hon. Lady is doing well.

The Prime Minister

We hope that in terms of the regulars, the proportion of officers in the police service will be 40 per cent. Catholic over the next 10 years, and we are recruiting on a 50: 50 basis. In relation to support staff, I am advised that we have had four competitions on a 50: 50 basis, but it is still too early to see the results of that.[Interruption.] Well, may I say to Opposition Members that the whole purpose of recruiting on a 50: 50 basis is to end the discrimination? We recognise that there are still certain difficulties with recruiting, but we want to maintain the position of getting to a balanced police service, which is why it is important to keep the 50: 50 recruitment.

I thank the hon. Lady for her kind invitation to North Down. I do not always receive invitations to visit every constituency in Northern Ireland, so that is particularly welcome.

Mr. Eddie McGrady (South Down)

Does the Prime Minister intend to attend party talks in Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Irish Government and in association with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to expedite the resolution of our political vacuum and, in particular, to ensure that the Good Friday agreement is fulfilled in its totality? We must ensure that what is taking place now is a review of the agreement rather than a renegotiation of it.

The Prime Minister

As I always point out to anyone who asks for a renegotiation of the agreement, we would ultimately end up negotiating with the same parties over the same issues. I want the Good Friday agreement to be implemented. I think the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland also want that. Their worry at the moment is whether they can be sure that it will be implemented: will all parties commit themselves to exclusively peaceful and democratic means and will a power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland stand the test of time?

I hope my hon. Friend forgives me if I do not give a commitment about any particular meeting, but of course we will remain fully engaged and committed. I believe that the Good Friday agreement—the Belfast agreement—provides the only way forward for people in Northern Ireland. One possible hope for the future is that this recent political crisis has not intensified the security crisis. Most people understand that in the end they will have to come back and debate these issues and find a way through, so that all aspects of the Good Friday agreement are completed for the future of the people of Northern Ireland.

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