§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that any arrangements made in the North/South Ministerial Council during direct rule will be accountable, open and transparent and handled on the British side by politicians and not civil servants. [HL61]
§ Baroness Farrington of RibbletonBy an agreement due to come into force in early December, contained in an exchange of letters on 19 November, the British Government and the Irish Government have agreed that decisions of the North/South Ministerial Council during suspension will be made by the two governments. That agreement also provides that any reference in the Implementation Bodies Agreement to the assembly shall be read as a reference to the United Kingdom Parliament. Accordingly, any reports and statements which are required by that agreement to be laid before the assembly shall, during suspension, be laid before Parliament.
A copy of the exchange of the letters has been placed in the Library.