§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has yet received Mr. J. J. Rowe's report on the operation in 1994 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991. [25532]
§ Sir Patrick MayhewI have received Mr. Rowe's report and it is being published today and copies are being placed in the library. I am most grateful to him for his work.
As the ceasefires continue to hold the powers in the Act are being used less and less. But the Government believe that the Act itself remains necessary. This is also the view of Mr. Rowe. I am therefore laying before the House today an order continuing for a further year those provisions in the Act which are currently in force. We all look forward to the time when there will no longer be a need for them.