§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 16 March (WA 230), which indicated that relations with the Irish Government were a factor to be taken into account in their decision not to mark the bicentenary of the creation of the United Kingdom, and in view of the fact that the Irish Government is holding events to mark the bicentenary, why they consider that relations with that Government would be damaged if they were to mark the bicentenary. [HL2271]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by my noble friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 9 May,Official Report, col. 1364.
As we have made clear, although we have no plans at present for a formal commemoration of the 200th anniversary on the 1801 Act of Union we fully recognise the historic significance of that Act. We do not believe that our bilateral relations with Ireland would suffer as a result of marking the bicentenary. However, it is the long established practice of the Government to take into account the views of its partners on all matters that might have a bearing on international relations.