Government's Legislative Programme (Northern Ireland)

Wednesday 26th May 2010 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr Owen Paterson)]

The First Session UK legislative programme unveiled in the Queen’s Speech on 25 May contains measures of relevance to the people of Northern Ireland.

The following is a summary of the legislation announced in the Queen’s Speech and its impact in Northern Ireland. It does not include draft Bills.

The list also identifies the lead Government Department.

The following Bills extend to Northern Ireland, in whole or in part, and deal mainly with excepted matters. Discussions will continue between the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that where provisions that are specifically for a transferred purpose are included in any of these Bills, the consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly will be sought for them:

Parliamentary Reform Bill (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

Equitable Life Payments Scheme Bill (HM Treasury)

National Insurance Contributions Bill (HM Treasury)

Office for Budget Responsibility and National Audit Office Governance Bill (HM Treasury)

European Communities (Amendment) Referendum Lock Bill (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

Public Bodies Bill (HM Treasury/Cabinet Office/Business, Innovation and Skills)

Financial Services Regulation Bill (HM Treasury)

Postal Services Bill (Business, Innovation and Skills )

Draft Parliamentary Privilege Bill (Ministry of Justice)

Identity Documents Bill (Home Office)

The following Bills may extend to Northern Ireland to varying degrees. They require the consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly in relation to those provisions in the devolved field:

Welfare Reform Bill (Department for Work and Pensions)

Freedom Bill (Cross-departmental)

Pensions and Savings (Department for Work and Pensions )

Energy Security and Green Economy (Department of Energy and Climate Change)

Health Bill (Department of Health)

Discussions will continue between the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive on Bills that might include provisions that require the consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The following Bills will have limited or no impact in Northern Ireland:

Local Government (Revocation of Structural Change) Bill (Communities and Local Government)

Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (Home Office)

Education Freedom Bill and Education and Children’s Bill (Department for Education)

Scotland Bill (Scotland Office)

Decentralisation and Localism Bill (Communities and Local Government)