PLAN FOR ULSTER

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33189, 31 March 1973, Page 15

PLAN FOR ULSTER

Approval in Commons , (N.ZP.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, March 30. Parliament last night gave overwhelming approval to the British Government’s new ] peace plan for Northern Ire-i land, under which elections] will be held in the province! at the end of June. The Administrator for' Northern Ireland (Mr William Whitelaw) announced in the House of Commons that prompt action would be taken to push through a bill ensuring a June ballot for the 80-seat assembly. The Government initiative will give the Roman Catho-] lie minority a greater say in. governing the province. I This will be done partly by making proportional representation the basis for the elections to the Assembly, which replaces the for mer Protestant - dominated provisional Parliament at ] Stormont, outside Belfast , There will also be power] sharing in the committees] running the various depart-: ments. Britain, which assumed direct rule of the province last March, will retain control ot security—police and Armed Forces—with a British Cabi net Minister representing Northern Ireland interests in the Commons.