§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if Her Majesty's Government were aware before signing the Anglo-Irish agreement of the extent to which the Irish Government had engaged in consultation with the Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland about the progress of negotiations on the agreement; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Tom KingI shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects United States and European Economic Community aid anticipated at the time of the Hillsborough agreement to reach Northern Ireland; in what form; and on what conditions.
§ Mr. Tom King[pursuant to his reply, 30 January 1986, c. 599.] Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish agreement on 15 November last year, the United States President issued a statement of support in which he spoke of finding tangible ways for the United States to lend political support to the agreement. The Speaker of the House of Representatives undertook to endeavour to see that this commitment was honoured by Congress and in December both Houses passed a resolution in support of aid. In mid-January, British, Irish and United States officials met in Washington for exploratory talks on United States financial and economic support. In the Community both the Commission and the European Parliament have expressed support for the Anglo-Irish agreement and for continued economic and social development in Northern Ireland. But no formal proposals have yet been made and it would therefore be premature to speculate about when or how aid might be available from either source.