Northern Ireland

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 2:34 pm on 1 May 2003.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Andrew MacKinlay Andrew MacKinlay Labour, Thurrock 2:34, 1 May 2003

In February, we had only one day of debate on the legislation to postpone elections. I appreciate that the matter must be tackled with dispatch, but may we have at least two days for the forthcoming Bill, because it will be more complicated than the legislation that we passed in February? For example, we should consider the 200 members of Assembly staff—the employees of Members of the Legislative Assembly—who will presumably receive redundancy notices. We must consider what happens to them in the interregnum.

When precisely was the Social Democratic and Labour party told about the statement, bearing it in mind that other Northern Ireland business was scheduled for this afternoon?