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Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

I certainly hope so, and I condemn the acts of criminality that are occurring. We want to ensure that such a development takes place. The Government have said that the arrangements for that devolution must be robust, must be workable and must continue. There is much more work to be done on that. The hon. Member for Aylesbury has pointed to some of the issues that we need to consider. The hon. Member for Belfast, East mentioned the position of the office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in relation to that. It is one aspect of the comprehensive proposals that were mentioned as part of the Assembly motion to devolve policing. I have, in private discussions with the hon. Gentleman, given him assurances on this matter, and we certainly have not forgotten that. We will be considering that during the ongoing discussions with the Northern Ireland parties as part of the devolution of policing.