Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 13 June 1991.
Mr Brian Wilson
, Cunninghame North
12:00,
13 June 1991
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what review he has undertaken of the existing sea communication between Northern Ireland a nd Scotland.
Mr Richard Needham
, North Wiltshire
None, Sir.
Mr Brian Wilson
, Cunninghame North
Does the Minister agree that while the advantages of shorter sea crossings are self-evident, there is a strong case to be made, particularly for passenger services, for crossings between ports that are close to the main centres of population? Does he further agree that it would be in the interests of the Northern Ireland economy as well as of my Constituency to restore the traditional link between Belfast and Ardrossan? May we have an assurance in principle that if proposals to restore such a service, which I believe may be in the offing, come to the Northern Ireland Office, they will receive a positive response?
Mr Richard Needham
, North Wiltshire
Yes, Sir.
Mr Clifford Forsythe
, South Antrim
What steps has the Minister taken to investigate the fare structure and cost of travel between Northern Ireland and Scotland, especially in view of the Northern Ireland Consumer Council's complaints about it?
Mr Richard Needham
, North Wiltshire
I understand the problem to which the hon. Gentleman alludes. Certainly, if it seems that the matter should be looked into, and if there is a restraint of trade we shall consider referring it to the Office of Fair Trading. There are about 100 crossings per week between the north of Ireland and the mainland, and the north is benefiting most from the economic upturn in trade between the two islands.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
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In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
