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,...

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 Government new clause and amendments were tabled after our helpful discussions in Committee and on Second Reading and they deal with issues relating to the devolution of policing and justice functions. I shall speak first to new clause 3, then consider Government amendments Nos. 5, 6, 8,9 and 11,...

The Government new clause and amendments were tabled after our helpful discussions in Committee and on Second Reading and they deal with issues relating to the devolution of policing and justice functions. I shall speak first to new clause 3, then consider Government amendments Nos. 5, 6, 8,9 and 11,...

I hope that the new clause and amendment will find favour in the House because they will establish a statutory duty for sustainable development on public authorities in Northern Ireland. They will ensure that public authorities act in a manner that best contributes to the objectives of sustainable development. You...

I hope that the new clause and amendment will find favour in the House because they will establish a statutory duty for sustainable development on public authorities in Northern Ireland. They will ensure that public authorities act in a manner that best contributes to the objectives of sustainable development. You...

That is a similar point to the one that was made by the hon. Member for Belfast, North. I intend in broad terms today to get the support of the House for a sustainable development strategy for Northern Ireland and for the measure to place a duty on local authorities...

That is a similar point to the one that was made by the hon. Member for Belfast, North. I intend in broad terms today to get the support of the House for a sustainable development strategy for Northern Ireland and for the measure to place a duty on local authorities...

We certainly support new clause 1 and amendment No. 1. Sustainable development is clearly an important aim for public authorities and we support the Government placing a duty on public authorities to achieve sustainable development. I want to raise a similar issue. Are the Government considering placing a duty on...

We certainly support new clause 1 and amendment No. 1. Sustainable development is clearly an important aim for public authorities and we support the Government placing a duty on public authorities to achieve sustainable development. I want to raise a similar issue. Are the Government considering placing a duty on...

I am grateful for the broad welcome for the measure from hon. Members on both sides of the House. As I said, on 9 May, the Secretary of State outlined his vision of a sustainable development strategy for Northern Ireland. That backs up the Government’s £59 million package of measures...

I am grateful for the broad welcome for the measure from hon. Members on both sides of the House. As I said, on 9 May, the Secretary of State outlined his vision of a sustainable development strategy for Northern Ireland. That backs up the Government’s £59 million package of measures...

Perhaps I can help the hon. Gentleman. The new clause is a framework clause to give the Secretary of State the power to set guidance for local authorities. It is the intention of the Secretary of State, via the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and myself,...

Perhaps I can help the hon. Gentleman. The new clause is a framework clause to give the Secretary of State the power to set guidance for local authorities. It is the intention of the Secretary of State, via the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and myself,...

I am grateful to the Minister. He refers to something that I was going to explore: the purpose of the new clause. He talks of giving the Secretary of State certain powers. Perhaps he can clarify that. Is it not the case that, under the terms of the new clause,...

I am grateful to the Minister. He refers to something that I was going to explore: the purpose of the new clause. He talks of giving the Secretary of State certain powers. Perhaps he can clarify that. Is it not the case that, under the terms of the new clause,...

I offer a broad welcome to the new clause. There is strong support in the community for the active commitment that the Secretary of State in particular is showing to moving the sustainable development agenda forward. It is clear that the new clause spins out of the sustainable development strategy...

I offer a broad welcome to the new clause. There is strong support in the community for the active commitment that the Secretary of State in particular is showing to moving the sustainable development agenda forward. It is clear that the new clause spins out of the sustainable development strategy...

I agree with the hon. Member for Foyle (Mark Durkan). Generally speaking, the new clause is uncontentious and will be broadly welcomed, but I want to tease out some details. Sustainable development is new to the Bill and was not discussed on Second Reading or in Committee. One of the...

I agree with the hon. Member for Foyle (Mark Durkan). Generally speaking, the new clause is uncontentious and will be broadly welcomed, but I want to tease out some details. Sustainable development is new to the Bill and was not discussed on Second Reading or in Committee. One of the...

The Minister will be well aware that, in his home nation of Wales, the National Assembly has a statutory duty to promote sustainable development. Given that he has referred to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly having the power to designate other public authorities,...

The Minister will be well aware that, in his home nation of Wales, the National Assembly has a statutory duty to promote sustainable development. Given that he has referred to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly having the power to designate other public authorities,...

The hon. Lady is accurate. The National Assembly for Wales has a statutory duty on that basis. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has shown, from the Government’s perspective, that we wish to promote sustainable development. Subsection (3) allows for ““public authority”” to mean"““any other person designated for...

The hon. Lady is accurate. The National Assembly for Wales has a statutory duty on that basis. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has shown, from the Government’s perspective, that we wish to promote sustainable development. Subsection (3) allows for ““public authority”” to mean"““any other person designated for...

I congratulate the Minister on his elevation to the post of First Minister. I hope that he brings the poise, charm and personality that he has shown in the past 12 months to that office, too. Like my colleagues, I welcome the commitment to sustainable development but the biggest difficulty...

I congratulate the Minister on his elevation to the post of First Minister. I hope that he brings the poise, charm and personality that he has shown in the past 12 months to that office, too. Like my colleagues, I welcome the commitment to sustainable development but the biggest difficulty...

There is not a potential threat from Continuity IRA or Real IRA. A bomb was primed in Londonderry and was headed, we believe, towards a police station. A bomb was being set in Lurgan. That was not a potential threat, but an active, real threat that terrorists were posing against...

There is not a potential threat from Continuity IRA or Real IRA. A bomb was primed in Londonderry and was headed, we believe, towards a police station. A bomb was being set in Lurgan. That was not a potential threat, but an active, real threat that terrorists were posing against...

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

Can the Minister clarify subsection (1) of new clause 1, which states ““A public authority must””—there is an imperative—"““in exercising its functions, act in the way it considers best calculated to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development””." There is a must and then there is a broad brush. They...

Can the Minister clarify subsection (1) of new clause 1, which states ““A public authority must””—there is an imperative—"““in exercising its functions, act in the way it considers best calculated to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development””." There is a must and then there is a broad brush. They...

If the hon. Lady wishes to be pedantic, perhaps it is a quadruple lock. The Secretary of State and I seek a situation in which devolution of policing and criminal justice takes place following a cross-community vote among nationalists and Unionists in the Assembly in support of the proposal, which...

If the hon. Lady wishes to be pedantic, perhaps it is a quadruple lock. The Secretary of State and I seek a situation in which devolution of policing and criminal justice takes place following a cross-community vote among nationalists and Unionists in the Assembly in support of the proposal, which...

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

Any other bids? Let me go beyond the welcomes to say that I appreciate that the Government have made some amendments that improve the Bill. Should the circumstances ever arise whereby policing and justice powers can be devolved, my party, regardless of what any other party does, believes in the...

Any other bids? Let me go beyond the welcomes to say that I appreciate that the Government have made some amendments that improve the Bill. Should the circumstances ever arise whereby policing and justice powers can be devolved, my party, regardless of what any other party does, believes in the...

Let me try to clarify something. I understood the hon. Gentleman to have said that if the First and Deputy First Ministers were to appoint a member of another party without the approval of that party, that would use up one of their d’Hondt entitlements. Where does he see that?

Let me try to clarify something. I understood the hon. Gentleman to have said that if the First and Deputy First Ministers were to appoint a member of another party without the approval of that party, that would use up one of their d’Hondt entitlements. Where does he see that?