Sir John Biggs-Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the occasions on which he and his predecessors in office have agreed to the rerouting or banning of parades, loyalist and otherwise; and if he will list his powers in the matter.
§ Mr. ScottUnder the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, the routing of public processions is a matter for the police. As far as can be ascertained from available records, the Secretary of State's powers under the 1981 order, and the legislation that preceded it, to prohibit the holding of public processions have been exercised on the following occasions:
Date Location of Proposed Procession 3 June 1972 Londonderry 18 June 1972 Belfast City Centre 1 July 1972 Coalisland 12 August 1972 Londonderry 19 November 1972 Belfast City Centre 10 February 1973 Belfast City Centre 9 December 1973 Belfast City Centre 8 June 1975 Dungiven 12 July 1975 Feeny 13 June 1976 Dungiven 8 July 1977 Feeny 12 July 1977 Feeny 3 July 1978 Feeny 16 June 1978 Belfast City Centre 26 November 1 Armagh 1 January 1980 Belfast/Maze 3 December 1980 Belfast City Centre 5 April 1981 Cookstown 11 April 1981 Cookstown 15 April 1981 Belfast City Centre 30 May 1981 Castlewellan 1 June 1985 Castlewellan 27 June 1985 Castlewellan The Secretary of State's powers are contained in article 4(3) of the Public Order (Northen Ireland) Order, 1981 which relates to the prohibiting of public processions in the circumstances prescribed.