HC Deb 11 February 1998 vol 306 cc261-3W
12. Ms Southworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in the all-party talks. [26876]

14. Mr. Hanson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on current progress in the peace talks. [26878]

22. Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the current peace talks. [26887]

25. Mr. Quinn

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on progress in the peace process. [26890]

Marjorie Mowlam

I refer my hon. Friends to the oral answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn).

13. Mr. Wilkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the outcome of the Northern Ireland peace talks in London. [26877]

Marjorie Mowlam

The talks at Lancaster House focused on relations between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and the totality of relationships between the two Irelands. The process benefited from the change of location which helped to increase the pace of negotiation as we approach the May deadline.

17. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions she has had with the Irish Government concerning the Northern Ireland peace process. [26881]

Marjorie Mowlam

I have regular discussions with the Irish government on the peace process, both within the talks process and on other occasions, in pursuit of our shared goal of achieving a widely acceptable political accommodation and a lasting peace.

18. Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are her objectives for the outcome of the peace process in Northern Ireland. [26882]

Marjorie Mowlam

The Talks have the purpose of achieving a new beginning for relationships within Northern Ireland, within the island of Ireland and between the peoples of these islands, and to agree new institutions and structures to take account of the totality of relationships.

A political settlement which addressed these relationships to the satisfaction of the talks participants and won widespread support throughout the community in Northern Ireland could bring about political stability and greater democratic accountability, and underpin lasting peace.

19. Mr. Clifton-Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on policy with regard to paramilitary organisations' participation in the peace talks. [26883]

Marjorie Mowlam

A number of parties which participate in the political talks have links with paramilitary organisations. No party is entitled to participate if it is in breach of the Mitchell Principles of democracy and non-violence. In assessing that, we shall take account of the activities of organisations with which the party concerned has a clear link, as we did in considering the position of the Ulster Democratic Party.

21. Mr. Donaldson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the role of the Framework Document in achieving consensus between Unionists and Nationalists in the talks process. [26885]

Marjorie Mowlam

The Government put forward the Framework documents in 1995 as a package that in their view had the potential for securing consensus, but they made clear that they would accept a range of other outcomes broadly acceptable to other participants in talks. We naturally remain committed to the principles reflected in the Framework documents, but the final outcome depends on where participants themselves can find consensus.