Clause 18
Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill
4:15 pm
Alan Reid (Shadow Minister, Northern Ireland Affairs; Argyll and Bute, Liberal Democrat)
It isa pleasure to serve under your chairmanship,Mr. Atkinson. I share the concerns of the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson). We spend time scrutinising legislation, and we reach this clause, which gives the Secretary of State sweeping powers to amend Acts of Parliament. We are creating a culture of the Secretary of State being given sweeping powers, particularly in relation to Northern Ireland business.
I do not understand why such powers are necessary in this case. The Secretary of State has powers under the previous clauses that we have debated. I do not see why we need this sweeping clause, which gives him the power to do more or less anything he likes to various Acts of Parliament.