Sir John Major:

It is my impression as an observer - not as a parliamentarian, which I am no longer - that the present Prime Minister and the present Northern Ireland Secretary are more open to improving relationships and dealing with the problems that are currently outstanding than has been the case of late. I may be mistaken in that but I do not think so. I think you will find the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State more open to that and I hope and believe that will prove to be the case.

The only other thing I would say is to thank the committee for inviting me. I hope I have been helpful in some small way. I apologise again for the fact that I did not feel competent to answer questions beyond the period in which I was in office, for the reasons I set out. I am sure the enticement of bringing others before it means the committee will get proper answers to those questions in due course. I hope so. I thank the Chair for his care and courtesy in conducting the meeting.