§ 25. Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which leaders of political parties in Northern Ireland he will consult in pursuing his proposal to reopen discussions on devolution; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeI would expect to consult the leaders of all the main constitutional political parties in Northern Ireland about devolution.
§ 30. Mr. Bill WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of his talks with Northern Ireland politicians concerning more local involvement in the government of the Province; and what interest has been shown in the possibility of establishing local authorities similar to the authorities within the rest of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BrookeI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill). In their talks with me, most Northern Ireland politicians have looked towards the establishment of a devolved form of government for Northern Ireland as a whole, with an appropriate role for representatives of the minority community. The Government would give serious consideration to any proposals for more local involvement which were workable and seemed likely to command widespread acceptance.
§ 29. Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has recently had with Northern Ireland politicians concerning more local involvement in the government of the Province; and if he will make a statement.
§ 42. Mr. Andrew MacKayTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last had formal discussions with the constitutional political parties in the Province.
§ Dr. MawhinneyLast year my right hon. Friend held meetings with the leadership of the Ulster Unionist party, the Ulster Democratic Unionist party, the Social Democratic and Labour party, the Alliance party for Northern Ireland, the Workers party and the Ulster Progressive Unionist party at which the prospects for transferring powers to locally elected representatives were discussed. So far this year he has held such meetings with the Social Democratic and Labour party (most recently on 19 January); and I have met the leader of the Alliance party (most recently on 23 January). In addition, my right hon. Friend and his ministerial colleagues have had many other meetings, formal or less formal, over recent months, with politicians from all the main constitutional political parties, when the prospects for political progress among other matters have been discussed.