§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will examine the possibility of governing Northern Ireland on the same basis as Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PriorUnlike Scotland, Northern Ireland has a tradition of devolved Government and all the major local parties in the Province seek its restoration. The Government do not believe that to govern Northern Ireland on the same basis as Scotland would be acceptable to the people of Northern Ireland.