§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much time was spent by Ministers and civil servants in the Northern Ireland Office negotiating during the past week with members of the Irish Commission for Justice and Peace.
§ Mr. AlisonAs has already been made plain, the Government have not been conducting negotiations with, or through the intermediary of, the Irish Commission for Justice and Peace. I saw the commission at its request on 23 and 26 June, and again on 3, 4, and 6 July. Officials were present and altogeher the discussions lasted about 20 hours.
§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much time was spent individually or collectively, in Her Majesty's prison, Maze, Northern Ireland, by members of the Irish Commission for Justice and Peace; and with whom they negotiated.
§ Mr. AlisonAt its request the Commission was allowed to see the prisoners taking part in the hunger strike on Saturday 4 July and twice on Sunday 5 July. Altogether these discussions, which were not continuous, lasted some thirteen hours. In addition one prisoner requested a special visit by three members of the Commission on Sunday 5 July; this request was approved.