HL Deb 22 January 2004 vol 657 cc49-50WS
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has made the following Ministerial Statement:

The Government have received and welcomed the first report from the Justice Oversight Commissioner, the right honourable Lord Clyde, on the progress achieved in implementing the recommendations of the Criminal Justice Review in Northern Ireland. Consistent with his terms of reference, the report was submitted to the Attorney-General, Lord Filkin, the Minister for the Northern Ireland Court Service and myself in December.

Lord Clyde concludes that the degree of progress achieved so far in the process of implementation has been significant and impressive. He also acknowledges the real commitment of the criminal justice agencies in Northern Ireland to taking the recommendations forward. The Government warmly endorse these conclusions.

Copies of the commissioner's report have been placed in the Library.