Northern Ireland Assembly: Elections

HL Deb 18 November 2003 vol 654 c272WA

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the announcement of elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 26 November 2003 will prevent communication between officials from the Northern Ireland Office and Members of both Houses of Parliament dealing with reserved and excepted matters. [HL5470]

Baroness Amos

The business of Government continues during the election period. It is right that the citizens of Northern Ireland should continue to receive the benefits of effective government. But at the same time, it is important that the Government try to conduct their business in a way which would not interfere with the electoral contest between the competing candidates and parties.

With that in mind, officials in the Northern Ireland Office should aim to ensure that all candidates in the election and their respective parties are treated fairly and equitably; and exercise caution about taking policy decisions or initiatives which might appear to favour a particular candidate or party.