§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which Bills introduced by his Department in the last five years have contained sunset clauses; and what plans he has for the future use of such clauses. [49619]
§ Dr. John ReidOver the past five years two Bills introduced by my Department contained sunset clauses: the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 and the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning (Amendment) Act 2002. Each contains a provision limiting the maximum duration of the amnesty period under a decommissioning scheme.
I shall continue to use such clauses where it is appropriate to do so.