BRITISH ministers are coming under strong unionist pressure to "kick for touch" on controversial proposals from the North Review of parades and marches.
Members of the cabinet's Northern Ireland Committee considered their response to the Dr Peter North report at a meeting in London yesterday. Sir Patrick Mayhew, the Northern Ireland Secretary, is due to make a statement in the Commons tomorrow.
Government sources last night refused to confirm reports that ministers would decide they could not legislate for the North proposals - believed to include the appointment of an independent commission to decide on parades - ahead of the general election.
That would suggest that new machinery for handling the parades issue will not be in place in time for this year's marching season.
Senior unionist MPs have advised ministers to opt for a lengthy period of consultation about the proposals. And they have warned of their strong opposition to the suggested creation of new criminal offences which would effectively outlaw any demonstrations being held in the vicinity of a banned parade.
Responding to the report presents a dilemma for Sir Patrick, who invited Dr North to head the review following last year's events around the Orange march at Drumcree.
Given the generally bipartisan approach to such issues, it is widely expected that Labour would be prepared to facilitate the speedy passage of any necessary legislation - as it was with the Decommissioning Bill.
Ministerial reluctance to act on North's proposals will fuel the belief that policy decisions are being governed by Mr Major's dependence on unionist votes in the Commons.
Dr Mo Mowlam, the shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, could not be contacted last night.
British sources last night also denied rumours circulating at Westminster that the Prime Minister, Mr John Major, was planning to make a statement amounting to an apology tomorrow on the 25th anniversary of bloody Sunday.