§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those parades in Northern Ireland which would normally take place during June, July and August 1985 which he has had brought to his notice as possibly leading to sectarian conflict.
§ Mr. HurdI exercised my statutory powers to prohibit the holding of parades in Castlewellan on 1 and 27 June 1985, following advice from the Chief Constable. It would not be right to disclose any details of confidential discussions about the possible effects of other parades.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list those parades which took place in Northern Ireland in the months of June, July and August 1984 in connection with which he took any action on the grounds that the parade as originally planned might encourage public disorder;
(2) if he will list those parades which took place in Northern Ireland in the months of June, July and August 1984 about which the police made representations to him seeking (a)bans and (b) re-routeings on the grounds of risk of public disorder; and what action he took in each case.
§ Mr. HurdThe maintenance of public order and the routeing of public processions is a matter for the police. My right hon. Friend the Member for Waveney did not exercise the Secretary of State's powers to prohibit the holding of public processions in June, July or August 1984, and I understand that there were no recommendations from the police that such powers should be exercised.