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Stormont Estate (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

My Lords, I am also unhappy with the order. First, let me say how pleased I am that Stormont House, Stormont Castle and Stormont Parliament Buildings are not included in the order. However, it is a rash statement to suggest that the other buildings in the Stormont Estate are rubbish. Dundonald House is one of the finest office blocks in Northern Ireland and is included in the sale in this order. There is concern in Northern Ireland about this order, and there is opposition to it, as has already been articulated from the Liberal Democrat Benches—and it is political concern. At the time when the south of Ireland separated itself from the United Kingdom there was a great row about the transfer of United Kingdom government buildings in Dublin to the new southern Irish government. There is a political suspicion in Northern Ireland, to which I hope the Minister will respond, that the Government are deciding to divest themselves of government buildings in Northern Ireland in preparation for an eventual withdrawal of Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom. That must be addressed, because the public perception of this Government in Northern Ireland is one that has already removed the royal coat of arms from court houses, which has already removed the Union flag from many government buildings in Northern Ireland and which is now deciding to sell government buildings. So we need an assurance to the people of Northern Ireland that there is no political meaning behind this decision. It would be a further assurance to the people of Northern Ireland if the Government could confirm whether they are selling government buildings in Scotland, Wales or England.