§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the decision was made to allow the Portadown Orangemen to march down the Garvaghy Road; and what were the criteria used for that decision. [7480]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 10 July 1997]: The Chief Constable concluded on the night of Saturday 5 July that the parade should be permitted to proceed along its notified route on Sunday 6 July was made.
He based his decision on the criteria set out in the public order legislation, in order to preserve public safety, only after all efforts to find an accommodation agreeable to both the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition and the Orange Order had failed.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what decision her Department has taken with regard to the routing of Orange marches pending at(a) Bellaghy, (b) the Lower Ormeau Road and (c) Derry City. [7481]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 10 July 1997]: As my hon. Friend will be aware the Orange Order decided not to parade along the lower part of the Ormeau Road on the 12 July, and to switch their planned march from Derry to Limavady. The Orange Order in Bellaghy decided to shorten their morning parade and not to parade, as provisionally planned, through the village in the evening. Because of these most welcome and significant decisions 339W by the Orange Order my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was not required to make any decisions on the parades in question.