The British government has resisted DUP invitations to "rubbish" suggestions that it might designate the Northern Ireland Troubles as a "war" or grant "combatants" in it some form of "amnesty".
At the same time London and the majority unionist party appear on a collision course over the proposed devolution of policing and justice powers to the Stormont Assembly.
In the House of Commons yesterday DUP MP Nigel Dodds insisted the issue "is not on the agenda", while Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward maintained it could and would be achieved by May this year, as envisaged by the British and Irish governments in the St Andrew's Agreement.
Mr Dodds and fellow MP Jeffrey Donaldson challenged prime minister Gordon Brown and Mr Woodward following reports earlier this week seeming to emerge from selected briefings by members of the Consultative Group on the Past.
As reported in yesterday's Irish Times, the group - headed by former Church of Ireland primate Lord Eames and former vice-chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board Denis Bradley - has not tabled any formal proposal in respect of amnesty or the designation of the Northern Ireland conflict as a "war".
However, Mr Woodward quoted Mr Bradley saying "nothing is ruled out and that nothing is ruled in, and that what matters is that the commission [consultative group] collects views", after Mr Donaldson suggested "it would be entirely wrong and a deep injustice if the perpetrators of terrorist crimes in Northern Ireland were to be granted an amnesty".
And 10 Downing Street moved to correct any impression of conflicting signals from the heart of government following Mr Brown's reply a short time later to Mr Dodds during Prime Minister's Questions.
Mr Dodds asked: "Will the prime minister take the opportunity to pay tribute once again to the gallant service of the security forces of Northern Ireland in the fight against terrorism and crime over many decades of violence?
"Will he also take the opportunity to rubbish any attempt by the commission on the past in Northern Ireland to validate or vindicate terrorists and criminals in their sordid terrorist war by describing it as a war?
"Will he utterly rule out any suggestion of an amnesty for terrorists and criminals?"
Mr Brown replied: "Yes, and it is important to say two things.
"First, our respect for the security services, the police and the armed forces for the difficult job they did over many years and for the loss of life suffered as a result of their difficult work is clear."
He continued: "Secondly, it is important to move forward with reconciliation. The efforts made by a number of bodies, including the one to which [he has] referred, are an important element of building for the future. What we want is a safe, secure, peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland."
Mr Brown's initial "yes" was initially taken in some quarters as a significantly more positive response than Mr Donaldson had received from Mr Woodward.
However, in answer to inquiries by The Irish Times, Downing Street subsequently made clear that Mr Brown had been saying "yes" to "the first part" of Mr Dodds question as it related to the security forces - and that the prime minister's position was the same as that of the Northern Ireland Secretary.