Commission's power on parades remains limited until after election

THE power of the North's parades commission to deal with contentious marches will remain limited at least until after the general election, Sir Patrick Mayhew has said.

The Northern Secretary said a decision on whether the commission would be given the power to make determinations on contentious parades up to and including banning such events would not be taken before the election.

His announcement will add to the uncertainty over how the parades will be tackled this summer as he is leaving it to his successor and the next British government to decide whether the commission should have "teeth".

In January the North Report on Parades recommended that the commission, instead of the RUC, should have the power to restrict or ban marches if it were evident disagreements could not be resolved through mediation.

But Sir Patrick, in setting up the commission in March, restricted its powers, specifically stating the recommendations about the powers of the commission should be subject to further consultation.

The commission's remit was restricted to education and promoting and facilitating mediation and the search for accommodation on contentious marches.

While nationalists were broadly sympathetic to the notion of the commission having the power to decide whether parades should take place, the Orange Order and unionists generally were opposed.

The SDLP deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, said in January the British government would "long finger" the issue because of the Tory dependency on the unionist vote in the House of Commons, although Sir Patrick rejected the allegation.

Sir Patrick said yesterday that more than 100 written submissions had been received on the powers of the commission. "The response has, I believe, wholly justified the government's decision to consult on this issue," he said.

"There is a common view that marches and parades should take place in a peaceful and orderly atmosphere. There were, however, widely differing opinions as to the best way this could be achieved. Careful consideration and analysis of the various policy options which are available is now taking place," Sir Patrick added.