HC Deb 09 February 1989 vol 146 c787W
14. Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has made towards the establishment of a cross-community devolved assembly in Northern Ireland.

Dr. Mawhinney

Clearly, there needs to be agreement between the political representatives of the two communities before such an assembly can be convened. Over the past year, the leaders of all the main constitutional political parties in Northern Ireland have told my hon. Friend that they support the objective of devolved institutions involving both communities. We hope that ways can be found to enable the parties to make progress in discussions between them.