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Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his kind comments. I think that that is the nicest thing he has said to me all year and it is only the fifth month of the year, so we are doing quite well. From my perspective and that of the Government, the key objective of the Secretary of State in requesting this power and in promoting sustainable development is to examine the issues in terms of not just public bodies outside central Government but central Government themselves. My hon. Friend made a suggestion with regard to recycled building materials. I am sure that such issues can be examined by Government Departments. We intend simply to put at the heart of government the question of sustainable development, including a range of measures on which central Government will work on over the next few weeks and months until the Assembly, I hope, takes on such responsibilities. We will use guidance and examination to encourage other public bodies to undertake such activity. Without commenting on specific proposals, I can tell my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, South (Dr. McDonnell) that there is a central Government drive to create sustainability in central Government and other public bodies. We are open to suggestions as to how we achieve that, but it is imperative that we undertake such a drive. For the reasons that I have outlined, I commend the new clause and amendment to the House. Question put and agreed to. Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill."‘(1) Amend section 4 of the 1998 Act (transferred, excepted and reserved matters) as follows.""(2) In subsection (2), for ““subsection (3)”” substitute ““subsections (2A) and (3)””.""(3) After subsection (2) insert—""““(2A) The Secretary of State shall not lay before Parliament under subsection (2) the draft of an Order amending Schedule 3 so that a devolved policing and justice matter ceases to be a reserved matter unless—""(4) In subsection (3), for ““the draft of an Order before Parliament under subsection (2)”” substitute ““before Parliament under subsection (2) the draft of any other Order””.""(5) After subsection (5) insert—""““(6) In this section ““devolved policing and justice matter”” means a matter falling within a description specified in—""(6) In this Part ““the 1998 Act”” means the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47).'. —[Mr. Hanson.]" Brought up, and read the First time.