§ Q17. Mr. Pounderasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his official visit to Northern Ireland on 16th and 17th November.
§ Q21. Mr. McMasterasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the representations made to him during his official visit to Northern Ireland on 16th and 17th November.
§ The Prime MinisterI welcomed the opportunity, in the course of my second visit to Northern Ireland as Prime Minister, to meet the Governor, the Northern380W Ireland Commission, representatives of political parties and local authorities, members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and of the armed forces serving in Northern Ireland, Church leaders and leaders of both sides of industry as well as some of the very many people who in all walks of life are helping to maintain the life of the Province.
I saw some of the damage to the centre of Belfast; and discussed with representatives of both communities from all parts of the Province both the considerable successes already achieved by the security forces and our determination to deal effectively with terrorism, from whatever quarter it might come. I was greatly impressed by the courage with which, despite all the difficulties, the people of Northern Ireland continue to go about their business from day to day.
I found, among all to whom I talked, a real desire for peace and a general acceptance of the Paper for Discussion as a fair statement of the fundamental conditions on which the future government of Northern Ireland must be based. I believe that, if the political parties and other responsible organisations in the Province try to understand each other's anxieties and to work together, a just and lasting settlement can be secured.