HC Deb 11 March 1993 vol 220 cc639-40W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements he has made to review the operation of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991.

Sir Patrick Mayhew

Viscount Colville of Culross, QC has accepted my invitation to prepare a report on the operation in 1992 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991. As with previous reviews, the intention is that the report should enable both Houses of Parliament to discharge effectively their responsibility to scrutinise the operation of the Act on the occasion of the annual debates on the continuance orders, and to determine whether any of the Act's temporary provisions could be allowed to lapse.

As the temporary provisions of the Act will lapse on 15 June 1993 unless continued in force by order, I have asked Viscount Colville to submit his report in sufficient time to facilitate the House's consideration of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act.