The Annual Carol Service for Parliament Buildings will be held in the Senate Chamber on Friday 17 December 1999 at 1.00 pm. It will be led by the joint choirs of St Columb's and St Eugene's Cathedrals, Londonderry.

Members, their families, guests and staff are cordially invited to attend.

ASSEMBLY PUBLICATIONS

Copies of Assembly publications are now available for purchase from The Stationery Office, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast BT1 4GD - Tel (028) 90 238451.

MEMBERS' PENSION SCHEME

Members will know that the first reading of the Assembly Members' Pension Bill has recently gone through the Assembly. It is hoped that the Pension Scheme will be implemented and fully operational by April 2000.

Members are therefore reminded that they may wish to make provision for the 6% contribution which they will be required to make towards the pension scheme, which will be effective from 1 July 1998.

Further details with regard to the payment of outstanding contributions will follow later.

COMMITTEE ROOMS

Members, their support staff and Assembly Secretariat staff are reminded that requests to use Committee Rooms 106, 135, 144 and 152 for meetings and other activities should be directed to the Committee Office. Contact points for such requests are Mrs Deborah Williams (Room 243 Tel: 21889) or Mrs Siobhan Murphy (Room 244 Tel: 21655).

CHRISTMAS RECESS

The Assembly will rise for the Christmas Recess at close of business on Friday 17 December, resuming the week commencing 10 January 2000 for Committees and the week commencing 17 January 2000 for Plenary Sittings.

ASSEMBLY CHRISTMAS CARD

Members are reminded that a copy of the Assembly Christmas Card is on display in the Printed Paper Office (Room 32). Costs are as follows:

Christmas Card £3.00 per pack of 10

Overprinting of Cards (Members only) £36.00 for up to 500 cards

Order forms and details of payment for cards are available from Margaret McAteer in the Printed Paper Office (telephone (028) 90 [5]21257). A limited number of last year's Christmas Cards are also available at the same price.