§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if Her Majesty's Government will request the Government of the Irish Republic to report to the next meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on progress made towards the implementation by the Irish Government of their intention to accede to the European convention on the suppression of terrorism as stated in paragraph 7 of the joint communiqué of the Anglo-Irish summit meeting at Hillsborough.
§ Mr. Tom King[pursuant to his reply, 30 January 1986, c. 597–98]: The Irish Government have already expressed their intention to accede as soon as possible to the European convention on the suppression of terrorism and are well aware of our views, and of the importance of this matter.
§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if it is intended that Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers from time to time should attend the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference; and whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been represented at official level.
§ Mr. Tom King[pursuant to his reply, 30 January 1986. c. 598]: It is open under article 3 of the Anglo-Irish agreement for Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers to attend the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. None have attended so far. The FCO has been represented at official level.
§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will raise at the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, under article 7 of the Anglo-Irish agreement, direct cross-border contacts between the British and Irish armed forces.
§ Mr. Tom King[pursuant to his reply, 30 January 1986, c. 598]: Since the Army operates in support of the 188W police, it is the Royal Ulster Constabulary which must take the lead in improving the co-ordination of security activity on either side of the border.