HC Deb 18 November 1998 vol 319 cc1039-40

Lords amendment: No. 62, after clause 20, to insert the following new clause—Quotas for purposes of international etc obligations— .—(1) A Minister of the Crown may make an order containing provision such as is specified in subsection (2) where—

  1. (a) an international obligation or an obligation under Community law is an obligation to achieve a result defined by reference to a quantity (whether expressed as an amount, proportion or ratio or otherwise); and
  2. (b) the quantity relates to the United Kingdom (or to an area including the United Kingdom or to an area consisting of a part of the United Kingdom which is or includes the whole or part of Northern Ireland).
(2) The provision referred to in subsection (1) is provision for the achievement by a Minister or Northern Ireland department (in the exercise of his or its functions) of so much of the result to be achieved under the international obligation or obligation under Community law as is specified in the order. (3) The order may specify the time by which any part of the result to be achieved by the Minister or department is to be achieved. (4) Where an order under subsection (1) is in force in relation to an international obligation or an obligation under Community law, the obligation shall have effect for the purposes of this Act as if it were an obligation to achieve so much of the result to be achieved under the obligation as is specified in the order by the time or times so specified. (5) No order shall be made by a Minister of the Crown under subsection (1) unless he has consulted the Minister or Department concerned.

Mr. Ingram

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this, it will be convenient to take Lords amendments Nos. 63 to 65.

Mr. Ingram

Amendment No. 62 permits the making of an order determining the Northern Ireland share of a quota imposed on the United Kingdom by virtue of an international or European Community obligation. The same provision applies in the case of Wales and in amendments to the Scotland Bill. That is necessary to ensure that the United Kingdom as a whole meets its international obligations.

Amendments Nos. 63 to 65 allow arrangements to be made for Northern Ireland Departments to carry out functions on behalf of other devolved UK Administrations, including the Government, or vice versa.

Agency arrangements were provided for in the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 and the inclusion of public bodies and holders of public office in the provisions enables authorities outside central Government Departments in devolved Administrations to act on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive, should the need arise.

The amendments achieve parity among all three devolved systems and I commend them to the House.

Lords amendment agreed to.

Lords amendments Nos. 63 to 76 agreed to.

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