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Anglo-Irish Parliamentary Tier

Oral Answers to Questions — House of Commons – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10th March 1986.

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Photo of Mr Alfred Dubs Mr Alfred Dubs , Battersea 12:00 am, 10th March 1986

asked the Lord Privy Seal what recent representations he has received about the establishment of an Anglo-Irish parliamentary tier.

Photo of Mr John Biffen Mr John Biffen , North Shropshire

A number of right hon. and hon. Members have made known to me their interest in the establishment of such a body.

Photo of Mr Alfred Dubs Mr Alfred Dubs , Battersea

Is the Leader of the House aware that many people are puzzled at the lack of progress on setting up this Anglo-Irish parliamentary tier, given that it was part of the recent agreement between London and Dublin. I put it bluntly to the Leader of the House—when will the House have an opportunity of debating this?

Photo of Mr John Biffen Mr John Biffen , North Shropshire

There is no immediate prospect of any such debate, as I told the hon. Gentleman when he last raised this matter. It is being proceeded with through the usual channels and that is how it stands.

Photo of Mr Michael Latham Mr Michael Latham , Rutland and Melton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that those of us who support this agreement and regret the absence

Staff in post at 1 October each year (including part-time empolyees)
YearSpeaker's OfficeClerk's DepartmentSerjeant at Arms DepartmentLibrary DepartmentAdministration DepartmentDepartment of Official ReportRefreshment Department∗
1975101132051094757—
1976101092081124761—
1977101111971105058—
1978101142141215058—
1979101192111256160—
1980101362121337171235
1981101442101387171237
1982121422141387469244
1983141392161528071246
1984151392131488671245
1985161372151639072241
1986†121422131588675245
∗ Prior to 1980 the Refreshment Department was not a Department of the House and records of the numbers of staff employed in this period are incomplete.
† At 1 March 1986.

of most of the Unionist Members from this Chamber, nevertheless hope that he will show his customary wisdom and proceed with this matter extremely deliberately?

Photo of Mr John Biffen Mr John Biffen , North Shropshire

I thank my hon. Friend.

Photo of Mr Reginald Freeson Mr Reginald Freeson , Brent East

Why has this matter taken so long, whether or not through the usual channels? It is not months, but several years, that Members of this House, including myself, have been asking the right hon. Gentleman and others for action in this direction. If it is now an agreed policy, why is something not being done about it shortly?

Photo of Mr John Biffen Mr John Biffen , North Shropshire

As the right hon. Gentleman will have heard, the matter is being considered through the usual channels.