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Northern Ireland Bill

First, I am very grateful for the support of Members of the Committee who have taken part in this mini-debate on the amendment. I am also very grateful to the Minister for his full and thoughtful response and his expression of sympathy—not seductiveness—for the intention behind the amendment. He made a very worthwhile and timely speech and I am most grateful for that. Of course, we are disappointed that the amendment will not be accepted. We intended to be careful and to have foresight, ensuring that all the possibilities were addressed. The money that the Minister said will accrue under our amendment may very well be as much as he says. We have not gone into great detail on that. However, I am very grateful once again to him for his very full response and I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Schedule 1 agreed to. Schedules 2 and 3 agreed to. House resumed: Bill reported without amendment.