§ Mr. Pageasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements he has made for an annual review of emergency legislation in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Tom KingI am pleased to be able to announce that Viscount Colville of Culross has accepted my invitation to prepare an annual report on the operation of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts 1978 and 1987. The intention is that these reports should enable both Houses of Parliament to discharge more effectively their responsibility to scrutinise the operation of the emergency provisions legislation in Northern Ireland on the occasion of the annual debates on the continuance orders, and to determine whether any of the temporary provisions of the two Acts could be allowed to lapse.
As the temporary provisions of both Acts will lapse on 21 March 1988 unless continued in force by order, I have asked Viscount Colville to submit his first report by 31 January 1988.