THE British government is set to announce some concessions on the operation of prison regimes in the North. This emerged last night as representatives of the two loyalist parties held more than an hour of talks with the Prime Minister, Mr John Major, at 10 Downing Street.
While there was no official confirmation, sources said a statement could come later today from the Northern Ireland Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew. It was stressed the proposed changes, covering leave and other arrangements, would apply equally to loyalist and republican prisoners in the North. But sources said the proposed changes were essentially modest, and would not require, primary legislation.
However modest, any gesture toward prisoners will inevitably be seen in the context of speculation about a possible renewal of the IRA ceasefire.
The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) and Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) delegations last night said they left their meeting with Mr Major "no clearer" about the possibility of a second IRA cessation. Mr Gary McMichael of the UDP said Sinn Fein had the opportunity to join the political process on the same basis as all other parties. But he said they could not engage" if the IRA was to operate a new ceasefire on the same basis as the previous one.
However, the major concern of the UDP and PUP yesterday was to preserve their position in the Stormont talks process, and to prevent it collapsing on the issue of decommissioning. They appeared encouraged that Mr Major was anxious to break the impasse.
In a clear jibe at the three main unionist parties, Mr McMichael said: "One thing which came out of our meeting, which we were satisfied with, is the commitment to the talks process having primacy over all other matters and over the agendas of any single constituent in the negotiating process.
Mr David Ervine of the PUP echoed this, welcoming what he saw as Mr Major's commitment to "the primacy of the talks process, the determination not to be stymied by any political party whether they're in the talks or out of the talks."
Mr Ervine continued: "The people of Northern Ireland have this opportunity. This opportunity must survive, and the government, seem absolutely determined to keep it alive as best they can." However, he continued: "But again . . . the responsibility for achieving consensus lies with the parties and not necessarily with government."
Repeating their earlier warning, Mr McMichael said: "Unless we can find the common ground and move forward and beyond the current debate on decommissioning, then the process is in serious jeopardy."
Downing Street said Mr Major had emphasised the importance of the continuing loyalist ceasefire. Commending the part played by the loyalist parties, he said this" had "earned them credit in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and beyond."
He stressed the government's wish for early progress in the talks and pledged to help bring it about. And he reaffirmed that Northern Ireland's constitutional position would be determined by the "consent" of the people there.