HC Deb 25 January 1996 vol 270 c382W
14. Mr. Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on recent developments in the peace process.[9639]

20. Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current political situation in Northern Ireland and recent progress on the peace process. [9646]

21. Mr. Robert Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made on the Government's "twin-track" approach to the Northern Ireland peace process [9647]

Sir Patrick Mayhew

I refer the hon. member to the replies I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Dr. Spink) and to the hon. Members for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) and for Lewisham, East (Mrs. Prentice).

19. Mr. Simon Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the impact of the peace process on living standards in the Province. [9644]

Mr. Ancram

It is not possible to link the peace process directly to any general measure of the standard of living in Northern Ireland. however, in the first 12 months after the ceasefire employment increased by almost 11,000—1.9 per cent.—to the highest level ever recorded; unemployment fell by just over 9,000—9.5 per cent.—to its lowest level for 14 years and house prices increased, on average, by 5 per cent.