The British government vowed today it would not be deflected from creating an effective police force for Northern Ireland.
The Labour Party Commons leader, Mr Robin Cook - answering Prime Minister's questions on behalf of Mr Tony Blair, who is still taking part in extended talks on the peace process - faced a grilling from Democratic Unionist leader Rev Ian Paisley.
Mr Paisley asked whether the Government was about to bow to the demands of the SDLP and Sinn Féin over the proposed new police force.
He asked: "Could you confirm that the Government is laying an order for next week to take back the powers vested in the new police boards and recall the old police authority because at the talks the SDLP and Sinn Féin-IRA have refused to put nominees onto that police board?"
Mr Cook answered that the proposed police force would only be introduced after a consenus from the whole community was reached.
"It is very important if we want to achieve a stable and peaceful outcome in Northern Ireland that we do have an efficient police force which does command the support and the confidence of all parts of the community," he said.
"This Government will not be deflected from that objective."
PA