Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has had discussions with the Chair of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission since her appointment; and, if so, what these were.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland spoke to the Chair of the Parades Commission immediately following her appointment in January this year. This was an introductory call to wish her well in her new position.

She Met the Parades Commission and its chairman on 14 May for routine discussions about the general prospects for the 2014 parading season. There were no conversations regarding operational matters in respect of specific summer parades. Determinations on individual parades are entirely a matter for the Commission which operates independently from the Government.