PRESS NOTICE

PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

27 November 2006

PN 01/06

COMMITTEE’S CONCERN AT SECRETARY OF STATE’S FAILURE TO REPLY

At a meeting on 20 November 2006 the Committee on the Programme for Government agreed the following resolution:-

‘The water reform legislation should be deferred, and the public services funding gap caused by this deferment and the capital backlog should be paid for by Government as additional funding’.

A letter was sent to the Secretary of State on 22 November 2006 informing him of the Committee’s views.

At a meeting of the Committee today, it was noted that neither an acknowledgement nor response had been received from the Secretary of State. The Water Reform legislation is to progress within a very tight timescale – it is due to go before the House of Commons tomorrow, 28 November 2006, and to the House of Lords by 11 December 2006 – and the Committee considered that, at least, the Secretary of State would have indicated how he intends to proceed. The failure to reply was considered as not only a lack of common courtesy but also disrespect for the Committee.

It was agreed that the Committee would write today to the Secretary of State expressing its concerns about his failure to respond. A copy of its letter is to be sent to the Leader of the House of Commons.

NOTES TO THE EDITOR:

On 24 November 2006, following a direction from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, the Business Committee established a Programme for Government Committee to consider the priorities for a new Executive and to make preparations for restoration. The Committee met today, 27 November 2007, and agreed a significant work programme.

Information about today’s meeting can be obtained from:-

The Information Office
Room B2
Parliament Buildings
Belfast
028 90 521137