Clause 30 - Public Prosecution Service
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill
Public Bill Committees, 31 January 2002, 6:00 pm
Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate, Conservative)
We now come to an important principle about responsibility for the Public Prosecution Service. The amendment would confer responsibility for the effective management of the service on the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister and remove that function from the Secretary of State. It is designed to make a simple pragmatic point rather than raise political issues about either Administration. That also applies to amendments Nos. 174 and 175, which refer to clause 31. Who should be responsible for running this service? If justice is to be devolved to Northern Ireland, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister should be responsible for its administration. Staff numbers, salaries and conditions of service should be the responsibility not of the Secretary of State, but of the First and Deputy First Ministers.