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Northern Ireland Bill

I cannot because of lack of time. We have delayed the election for one year, not to meddle with democracy, as has been alleged, but to give the Assembly the opportunity to bed in, if it is formed, and to be stable and satisfactory for going into an election in future. The Government are trying to get the Assembly back up and running. We are setting the framework for it to work. However, the prime movers must be the political parties that represent the people of Northern Ireland. We must move forward on the basis of an accommodation between people in Northern Ireland represented by their political leaders in the Assembly. If the House approves the Bill, the message to the people of Northern Ireland is that we have confidence in them and believe that they can run the affairs of their Province. We will support them in doing that, hand them billions of pounds of Government money to expend on their priorities and give an opportunity locally for them to determine their priorities, so that people who represent constituencies in Neath and north Wales do not choose them on their behalf. There is an opportunity for the Assembly to be reformed and to make progress. I hope that, on 15 May, the Assembly will elect an Executive and commence that process. We look forward to considering amendments tomorrow. In the meantime, for the reason that democracy is exercised best when exercised locally by locally accountable people, I commend the Bill to the House. Question put and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time, and committed to a Committee of the whole House, pursuant to Order [this day]. Committee tomorrow.