Clause 2 - Certification commissioner
Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill
10:00 am
Ben Wallace (Lancaster and Wyre, Conservative)
I do not expect the Minister to tell us off the top of his head how the fine detail as between a criminal offence—only he is aware of the reforms that he might introduce to Stormont in future—and the terrorist issues will be coped with, but I urge him to consider that difference carefully. I know that the Scotland Act 1998 looked good in Committee, but when the Scottish Parliament became a reality, these things, in relation to Westminster, did not always work. We have already seen such issues arise with the First Minister in respect of immigration. Therefore, I urge this Minister and his officials to reconsider the matter carefully and to try to find a way out, because there is a difference between a terrorist crime and a crime committed elsewhere or by a member of the armed forces.