§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what(a) oral and (b) written representations he has received from members of the House of Commons and the Northern Ireland Assembly on the subject of the Disqualifications Bill, indicating in each case the date on which representations were received; and if he will place all written representations in the Library. [107638]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 31 January 2000]: Disqualification issues have been discussed with the Irish Government, the UUP, Sinn Fein and the SDLP. I have a large number of contacts with these and other parties at which disqualification and numerous other issues arise and I am unable to supply an exhaustive list of such.
On 20 December, prior to the introduction of the Disqualification Bill, I wrote to the Northern Ireland parties represented in the Commons and the Home Secretary wrote to the leaders of the Conservative and Liberal parties, notifying them of the Government's intentions with regard to the Disqualification Bill. No response, written or oral, has yet been received.
The only written representation I have received on the subject is a letter, dated 14 December 1999, from the right hon. Member for Upper Bann (Mr. Trimble). As a result of this and subsequent discussions the Bill was amended.
It is a matter for the right hon. Member for Upper Bann whether he wishes to publish this letter in the House Library.