§ Mr. Bellasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) when he proposes to establish a working group of officials to consider the machinery for further discussion of legal matters, including the administration of justice, referred to at the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 11 December 1985;
(2) what representations have been made to the Government of the Republic of Ireland on policy aspects of extradition and related matters as referred to at the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference dated 10 January.
§ Mr. ScottAt the meeting my right hon. friend the Secretary of State, my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General, my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General and I had with the then Irish Minister for Justice and the Irish Attorney-General on 13 February, further work by officials on matters of mutual concern in accordance with the terms of article 8 of the agreement was authorised. These include measures relating to extradition; the possible harmonisation of areas of the criminal law; and the search for measures to enhance public confidence in the administration of justice.