Written question asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Monday, 15 October 2007.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Policing and Justice

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are working to a specific timescale for the devolution of policing and justice to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Answer: The precise timing for the completion of devolution is, under the terms of Section 4 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, a matter for the parties in the Assembly and then for Parliament to decide. However, the British and Irish Governments made clear in the St Andrews agreement that they believed it should be possible for the necessary community confidence to be built to enable the Assembly to request the devolution of policing and justice by May 2008. The Government are therefore committed to being ready to complete devolution in May 2008, should the Assembly so request.

Secondary information