§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to tabulate in explanatory memoranda attached to draft orders the differences between such orders and parallel legislation in the rest of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Tom KingThe purpose of explanatory memoranda is to give a clear and non-technical statement of the background to, scope, and effect of draft Orders in Council under the Northern Ireland Act 1974. Where appropriate these already include a description of any differences which might exist between legislation in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. But the cost of the preparation of a comprehensive table for each order could not be justified.