§ Lady HermonTo ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his statement of 18 June 2003,Official Report, column 357, on changes to Government departments, in what way an Independent Judicial Appointments Commission forms part of the agreed settlement in Northern Ireland. [123832]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 provides for the establishment of an independent Judicial Appointments Commission. This follows the recommendation in the Criminal Justice Review Report published in March 2000, which was itself undertaken as a commitment arising out of the Belfast Agreement. The Joint Declaration, issued by the British and Irish Governments in April 2003, included a commitment to establish a Judicial Appointments Commission prior to devolution. A second Justice Bill will be introduced into Parliament as soon as Parliamentary time will allow to give effect to this commitment.