§ Rev. Ian PaisleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Antrim North of 19 July,Official Report, column 1160, whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to consider an alternative to and a replacement of the Anglo-Irish Agreement through the present proposed negotiations, in the terms set forth in his recent letters to the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Molyneaux) and the hon. Member for Antrim, North.
§ Mr. BrookeI am happy to confirm that the terms of my letters of 4 May to the hon. Gentleman and to the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Molyneaux) do indeed remain the policy of Her Majesty's Government. In the context of discussions about possible future arrangements for the government of Northern Ireland, we would give serious consideration to any implications for the agreement that such arrangements might have, and we would also consider any proposal—including any proposal for an alternative to the agreement—that would advance the underlying objectives of achieving peace, stability and reconciliation.