| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Lord Dubs moved Amendment No. 102:
On Question, amendment agreed to.
Clause 37, as amended, agreed to.
Lord Dubs moved Amendment No. 103:
Page 20, line 28, at end insert--
("( ) For the purposes of section 36 and this section, a person shall be taken to comply with a requirement to produce a document if he produces a copy of, or an extract of the relevant part of, the document.").
After Clause 37, insert the following new clause--
(".--(1) The Presiding Officer or such other person as may be authorised by standing orders may--
(a) administer an oath to any person giving evidence in proceedings of the Assembly; and
(b) require him to take the oath.
(2) Any person who refuses to take an oath when required to do so under subsection (1)(b) is guilty of an offence.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months.").
The noble Lord said: This amendment enables the Presiding Officer to apply an oath to a witness, meaning that those giving untruthful answers will be guilty of perjury in the same way that it is already an offence under the Bill to refuse to answer questions at all.
This amendment is in line with similar provisions in the Scotland Bill and the Government of Wales Act. A witness may, under the terms of the 1978 Oaths Act, make an affirmation instead of an oath. I beg to move.
On Question, amendment agreed to.
Clause 38 [Remuneration of members]:
Lord Dubs moved Amendment No. 104:
On Question, amendment agreed to.
Lord Dubs moved Amendment No. 105:
The noble Lord said: These amendments are of a practical nature. I am sure that the Committee will agree that it is just and sensible that those who continue to hold office and be responsible for the exercise of the functions of that office should continue to receive the same level of salary after dissolution as they received before.
Similarly, I am sure that the Committee will agree that if a member does not seek re-election after the dissolution, he should cease to receive a salary as a member of the Assembly.
I turn now to the individual amendments. Amendment No. 105 provides for members of the Assembly Commission to receive enhanced salaries. Amendment No. 106 provides for Ministers, the Presiding Officer and members of the Assembly Commission to continue to receive their enhanced salaries between the period after dissolution until such time as the new Assembly is formed. During that time, they will continue to carry out the functions of that office and should be rewarded accordingly. Additionally, it ensures that where a member does not seek re-election payment of the member's salary ceases on dissolution.
Amendment No. 107 is a technical amendment which deletes the definition of "Ministerial office" for the purpose of this section. Amendment No. 36 provides a definition of "Ministerial office" which will apply throughout the Bill. I beg to move.
On Question, amendment agreed to.
Lord Dubs moved Amendments Nos. 106 and 107:
The noble Lord said: With the leave of the Committee, I shall move Amendments Nos. 106 and 107 en bloc. I beg to move.
On Question, amendments agreed to.
Clause 38, as amended, agreed to.
Clause 40 [Letters Patent etc.]:
[Amendment No. 108 not moved.]
Lord Dubs moved Amendments Nos. 109 and 110:
The noble Lord said: With the leave of the Committee I shall move Amendments Nos. 109 and 110 en bloc. I beg to move.
On Question, amendments agreed to.
Clause 41, as amended, agreed to.
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: I beg to move that the House do now resume.
Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
Page 20, line 36, leave out ("a Ministerial office") and insert ("office as a Minister or junior Minister").
Page 20, line 37, after ("deputy;") insert--
("(iia) holding office as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission;").
Page 21, line 19, at end insert--
("( ) For the purposes of this section, a person who is a member of the Assembly immediately before the Assembly is dissolved shall be treated--
(a) if he continues to hold such an office as is mentioned in subsection (3)(a)(I) to (iia), as if he were a member of the Assembly until the end of the day on which he ceases to hold the office; and
(b) if he does not fall within paragraph (a) but is nominated as a candidate at the subsequent general election, as if he were a member of the Assembly until the end of the day of the poll for that election.").
Page 21, line 20, leave out subsection (10).
Page 22, line 26, after ("a") insert ("fair and accurate").
Page 22, line 26, at end insert ("which is made in good faith").
19 Oct 1998 : Column 1305House adjourned at eighteen minutes past eleven o'clock.
Next Section
Back to Table of Contents
Lords Hansard Home Page