§ 11. Mr. WattsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to encourage agreements over disputed parades in Northern Ireland. [20861]
§ Mr. IngramAs my hon. Friend will know, the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Bill received its Second Reading in the House on 18 December and will shortly be going into Committee. The Bill is designed to tackle the difficulties that have surrounded the parades issue in recent years by encouraging local agreement, and by giving the Parades Commission the power to make determinations where local accommodation has not proved possible. Under Clause two of the Bill, the Parades Commission will also be able both to mediate directly on disputed parades and to promote mediation on parades.