§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the results of his Department in achieving the policy programme of the Government since his reply to a similar question by the hon. Member for Melton on 11 June 1980.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsThe position with regard to the principal elements of the Government's policy programme for Northern Ireland is as follows:
Political Development
It remains the Government's objective to seek means of giving the people of Northern Ireland a greater say in the running of their own affairs. In the absence of sufficient agreement among the local political parties regarding the basis of transfer of powers of government to locally elected representatives, the Government have now decided that the best means of making progress is to establish a representative Northern Ireland Council with membership drawn from persons elected to other bodies. These proposals were debated in the House on 2 July, and will now be discussed with representatives of the main Northern Ireland political parties.Law and Order
The Government has continued its efforts to protect the community against terrorism and other threats to public order and to return progressively towards normal arrangements for the maintenance of law and order. Good progress was made in 1980, and the Government felt justified in asking Parliament not to renew the provisions in the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 providing for detention. With further strengthening of police capabilities, the level of regular Army forces in the Province was reduced. In recent weeks disorders associated with prison protests have placed the security forces under increased pressure: the Government believe that this setback to progress will prove only temporary. During the period 771 persons have been charged with terrorist offences, and during the period 1 June 1980 to 31 May 1981, 572 persons have been convicted of such offences.Economic Strategy
The Government's general economic strategy remains the creation of conditions for sustainable growth of output and employment by reduction in the rate of inflation, by providing incentives and by holding public expenditure to levels which we can afford. Northern Ireland, like the rest of the United Kingdom, stand s to gain from the success of this strategy. Within this national strategy, the Government have taken steps to meet the particular problems facing the Northern Ireland economy. The incentives for new investment remain the most generous in the United Kingdom; it has been decided to bring electricity tariffs more closely into line with those in England and Wales and the first steps have been taken; an enterprise zone has been designated in Belfast; special measures have been introduced to help alleviate the problems associated with high unemployment, especially amongst the young; and levels of public expenditure continue to reflect the relatively greater needs of Northern Ireland in the social, economic and environmental fields.