§ Mr. Jim MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress made towards a resumption of the inter-party talks on the future of Northern Ireland.
§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the discussions he has had with the parties in Northern Ireland and the Irish Government relating to the constitutional future of Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. AncramBilateral discussions are continuing with three of the four Northern Ireland parties on the same basis as previously. The two Governments are also working intensively on a framework to carry the process forward. Our aim is to return to multilateral talks involving the two Governments and all the parties at the earliest appropriate moment.
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§ Mr. CanavanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will arrange discussions with political leaders to facilitate the peace process.
§ Sir Patrick MayhewMy hon. Friend the Minister of State and I will continue to invite discussion on the prospects for a peaceful political settlement in Northern Ireland with leaders of the main constitutional parties. The Government believe that the three-stranded talks process provides the framework within which agreement is most likely to be reached.