---

Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that intervention. I understand the Assembly’s desire to choose the method it wants, or that the Government should specify both methods. We have chosen 50:50:50 because we recognise that there is a correspondence, in a general sense, with the posts of First Minister and Deputy First Minister but, as I said to the hon. Member for Solihull, I am relatively flexible about the matter. If it is helpful to the hon. Lady, I shall be happy to reflect on the proposal and discuss with the political parties whether they want to consider an alternative method. If she pushes the amendment to a vote, I shall have to ask my hon. Friends to reject it, but if she withdraws it I shall reflect on what has been said, which will be subject to discussion on another day in another place.