A US Congressional committee has invited Mr Chris Patten to testify at a hearing on policing in Northern Ireland to be held early next year. Its chairman has told Mr Patten that the US committee will discuss "the need and means to develop acceptable policing for Northern Ireland".
Mr Ben Gilman, chairman of the international relations committee of the House of Representatives, has written to Mr Patten, who heads the Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland, saying he would "welcome the opportunity to have you testify on the commission's findings". Mr Gilman also welcomed the fact that the commission would take into account a recent UN report on the RUC's "controversial dealings" with lawyers in Northern Ireland.
He writes: "One cannot look to develop forms of new and acceptable policing for Northern Ireland without a clear understanding of the past practices and make-up of the RUC, and how those factors influenced and impacted on the community's support or lack thereof for the RUC. The issue is not just one of downsizing and new recruiting."
British sources here have indicated that there are problems about having Mr Patten testify to a US Congress committee before he has produced his final report, but no decision has yet been taken.
The committee will probably also invite testimony from Sinn Fein and from persons who have complained about RUC ill-treatment and discrimination.