Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Monday, 16 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 18 January 2006. It was answered by Lord Hain (Labour) on Tuesday, 31 January 2006 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Devolution

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on devolution in Northern Ireland.

Answer: On 11 January, in a statement to the House, I made clear that ““this Government believes that 2006 can be the year for restoration of the Assembly and will work to that end as a matter of the utmost priority””.Elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly are due in May 2007. In order that those elections are meaningful, we require an Assembly exercising its full responsibilities. The need for progress toward genuine political engagement is urgent.2006 can and must be a year of historic progress in Northern Ireland. It must be a year in which we see a fully inclusive, power-sharing Executive restored so that locally elected politicians can take the decisions that affect the everyday lives of the people of Northern Ireland.

Secondary information