§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the estimated timetable for the appointment of Ministers of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the transfer of responsibilities from her Department. [50404]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe right hon. Member for Upper Bann (Mr. Trimble) and the hon. Member for Newly and Armagh (Mr. Mallon) were elected as First Minister designate and Deputy First Minister designate of the New Northern Ireland Assembly at its first meeting, on 1 July. I expect the rest of the Shadow Executive Committee to be appointed by the autumn. A Bill to enable the transfer of legislative and Executive authority to the Assembly and to Northern Ireland Ministers is currently before Parliament. Subject to that, and to progress on other aspects of the Belfast Agreement, I would expect the transfer of powers to take place during the first quarter of 1999.