---

Rates (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

My Lords, I am coming to that. My noble friend will have my answer shortly. Let me be clear: if the Government do what is asked in my Motion, it will in no way diminish our dislike of the new system. It remains rotten, unjust and undemocratic. That is not just our view, but that of the people across the community in Northern Ireland who face higher bills and who are to be used as guinea pigs for England. If these matters are not devolved to the Assembly, then when there is a Conservative Government, we will abolish the rights of snoopers to enter people’s homes throughout the United Kingdom. And I give this pledge to the people of Northern Ireland: we will certainly review the system which Labour is imposing on them today. This is a deplorable policy being used in what many of us find a distasteful way. But—and this is where I answer my noble friend—we are an unelected House and we cannot take it upon ourselves to assume the government of Northern Ireland if the other place has given its consent and we are told by the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, what a delicate stage this is in negotiations.