§ Mr. TredinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the current state of the Peace Process; and if she will make a statement. [62196]
§ Mr. Paul Murphy[holding answer 3 December 1998]: Considerable progress has been made in implementing the Belfast Agreement including elections to the new Assembly and the election of a First Minister and Deputy First Minister. Reviews of policing and criminal justice are also underway. New initiatives for victims have been announced. The Northern Ireland Act 1998 is now law and work on establishing the Human Rights Commission and Equality Commission has commenced. Security measures are being reduced appropriately and the early release scheme is operational. In addition a wide range of related preparatory work is also under way both within Government and the Assembly to prepare for the formal transfer of power to the Assembly next year. An important element of this is the present consultations on the number of Ministerial offices and on areas for North/South co-operation. I look forward to agreement on these and the full implementation of all aspects of the Agreement together with the launch of the various new institutions early in 1999.