Constitutional Reform Bill [HL]

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 2:30 pm on 15 March 2005.

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Photo of Baroness Ashton of Upholland Baroness Ashton of Upholland Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Constitutional Affairs) 2:30, 15 March 2005

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 84. The aim of this amendment is to provide for the status of the new UK Supreme Court under the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Provision is made for the Supreme Court to be specified as an excepted matter in Schedule 2 to that Act, but for rights of appeal to the UK Supreme Court and legal aid for such appeals to be reserved matters in Schedule 3.

This ensures that the position of the new UK Supreme Court exactly reflects the current status of the judicial function of the House of Lords in relation to the devolution settlement for Northern Ireland. The amendment is intended merely to ensure that the new court is covered and to avoid any ambiguity about what is and is not excepted and reserved. It is not intended to change the status of the final court of appeal.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 84.—(Baroness Ashton of Upholland.)