My Lords, I will talk to Amendments 8, 12, 31 and 45 in my name and that of the noble Lords, Lord Morrow, Lord Hay and Lord McCrea.
These amendments go to the issue of good housekeeping, as it were, in terms of Parliament having access to a report in relation to the office of identity and cultural expression and, in Amendment 12, to an annual assessment and report on the costs arising from the Irish language commissioner. By virtue of Amendment 31, the same provision would also apply in relation to the Ulster Scots commissioner—if I may use that shorthand. Amendment 45 would put an obligation on the Secretary of State to
“lay before Parliament a report assessing the costs to the public purse of the establishment and operation of each of the three bodies”.
These are sensible and not particularly controversial provisions. I do not think that they should evoke alarm anywhere. Obviously, each body will publish its own financial reports and details in its own right, but it is right that these requirements are placed on the Secretary of State so that parliamentarians have a full, open and transparent picture of what is being expended and how it is being expended in terms of each of these novel, new bodies.
As has come up today and was discussed at Second Reading, the costs of all these new arrangements in NDNA, as reflected in this legislation, are somewhat subject to guesstimates. So far, nobody has been able to put a figure on what all this will actually cost. As has been raised by many people, there is a genuine concern that, when we come to prioritising expenditure in Northern Ireland—opinion polls have reflected this concern time and again—the issue at the heart of this legislation is not a high priority for people in either community, or of no community, in Northern Ireland. The health service, education, public services generally, the police service, the operation of the courts, the
environment—as we know, all these issues are seen as extremely more deserving of high prioritisation when it comes to public expenditure in Northern Ireland, as you would expect.
6.15 pm
Given that this is a very new set of offices and arrangements, it is right to keep a tight rein on expenditure. Some of the figures I have heard are, frankly, mind-boggling. It is therefore incumbent on the Government to ensure that parliamentarians are given the fullest details that can be made available, as required under these amendments, so that we can have an annual debate and report on these matters if necessary. Since the Government have taken this matter as one to be legislated for in this Parliament here at Westminster, as opposed to in the Northern Ireland Assembly, it is right that, going forward, when it comes to finance and the auditing arrangements, there should be an oversight role for this Parliament as well as for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
This is a sensible, modest set of requirements, which I think will be to the benefit of everyone both here at Westminster and in the Assembly. Most of all, they will be of immense interest to the people of Northern Ireland as they see these institutions develop going forward.
I beg to move.