THE vice chancellor off Oxford University, Dr Peter North, has been appointed chairman of the independent review of parades and marches in Northern Ireland. The 59 year old college don will begin his review in September, after the contentious Apprentice Boys parades on August 10th.

Dr North, a Queen's Counsel and a native of Nottingham, agreed that he was a member of the "British establishment" but he stressed his independence yesterday, saying that he had no "direct contacts in Northern Ireland or the Republic.

He came to his task with a completely open mind. "I will listen, as will the other members of the review when they are named, to what everybody has to say about their concerns," he said.

He said he could not take up his position until the other members were appointed, which would be sometime in September, after the Apprentice Boys' parades on Saturday week.

The review body, being appointed by the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, has until January to come up with its report. It will take submissions from interested groups, and can advise on whether there is a need for changes in current parades legislation, and on whether a new body should be established to govern parades.

Dr North said it would be up to the review body to decide whether, in addition to taking written submissions, it would hear oral submissions.

Dr North, currently principal of Jesus College, Oxford, has been vice chancellor of Oxford University since 1993. A legal expert, he was educated at Keble College, Oxford, and has lectured, at the Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth, and the University of Nottingham.

He was tutor at Keble College from 1965 to 1976, and was fellow of the college from 1965 until 1984. He was law commissioner, for England and Wales from 1976 to 1984, and chaired the road traffic law review from 1985 to 1988, and the conciliation project advisory committee during the same period.

He has written several books and articles on various aspects of the law.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, the Sinn Fein chairman, said it was too early for his party to decide whether it would make a submission to the review. He found it "strange" that the review body would not be operating before August 10th.