asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether he will now seek to initiate talks with representative sections of the community with a view to strengthening his advisory committee and vesting it with legislative powers in limited matters of a local government nature;(2) whether he will now announce the compositon of his Advisory Committee; and whether he will ensure the representation upon it of trade unionists of all denominations within Notrhern Ireland.

I am in the process et considering appointments to the Northern Ireland Commission. The functions of that Commission are set out in the Schedule of the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1972 and I do not think that it would be appropriate to extend them to include legislative powers.