§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he made of the possibility of extending the NHS (Residual Liabilities) Bill to Northern Ireland; and what were the reasons for choosing the negative resolution procedure. [23230]
§ Mr. Moss[holding answer 29 March 1996]: This is a transferred matter and it is accepted practice to amend the existing Northern Ireland legislation by means of an Order in Council rather than extension of a Bill. The negative resolution procedure was chosen to maintain the integrity of the NI statute book and because there is some urgency to ensure consistency throughout the United Kingdom.