Clause 1 - Offences to which the Act applies
Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill
4:30 pm
David Hanson (Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office; Delyn, Labour)
I hope that I can reassure the hon. Gentleman. For the record, because that is important, our assessment is that the meaning of clause 1(1)(a) is the same as that under the 2000 Act. That is also the legal assessment that we have come to in drawing up clause 1(1)(a). We can kick this subject around for a long time and I am happy to continue, but I am trying to reassure the Committee that the Government’s assessment, having discussed the matter with parliamentary draftsmen and the legal team, is that schedule 9 to the 2000 Act relates to clause 1(1)(a), which is why the clause is framed as it is.