Northern Ireland (Social Security Consultation and Co-oordination) Bill

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B I L L

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Amend the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to repeal provisions requiring consultation and co-oordination to regards to social security, and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Section 1: Repeals

(1) Section 87 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Consultation and co-oordination) is hereby repealed.

Section 2: Extent, Commencement, and Short Title

(1) The amendments, repeals, and revocations made by this Act have the same extent as the enhancements to which they relate.

(2) This Act comes into force upon the Passage of a Legislative Consent Motion by the Northern Irish Assembly.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Northern Ireland (Social Security Consultation and Co-oordination) Act 2023.

This Bill was submitted by the Rt Hon /u/cocoiadrop_ OM CT CB CMG CVO MBE MP PC, on behalf of His Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition.

Principal Act, S87

Opening Speech:

Mr/Madam/Mx Deputy Speaker,

I introduce this bill today making good a promise from the end of last term, as detailed in my statement to the House as NI Secretary, that the will of the Northern Ireland Assembly will be followed in repealing section 87 of the Northern Ireland Act. Of course this promise continues to being in opposition.

This section requires the executive and Secretary of State to coordinate on social security policy to provide a “single system” of social security for Northern Ireland that matches the UK Government’s. This effectively eliminates the ability of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive to determine their own social security policies most especially if the Secretary of State is unaccepting of their positions. This is an inappropriate requirement to hold, and we believe in Northern Ireland’s right to determine policy that works for them.

I hope this House will join us in respecting the will of Northern Ireland through passing this repeal of Section 87, and finally delivering Northern Ireland the devolved power for social security policy. I commend this Bill to the House.

This reading shall end on 5th June at 10pm BST.