Question
May I point it out to the Minister that he told the Delegated Legislation Committee considering the draft Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 that ““there will be with key stakeholders and others further consultation on guidance, which will be issued prior to the enactment of the legislation.””?—[Official Report, Second Delegated Legislation Committee, 2 June 2008; c. 18.] Unless he did so while I was being briefed about another issue by a colleague on this Bench, will he tell us when that guidance will be published? Will he also expand on any consideration that he is giving to protecting teachers from false accusations of abuse?
Answer
The second matter is now entirely for the devolved Minister for Education, although I will be only too happy to assist if I can, as I still have responsibility for criminal law. The guidance that will follow the passing into law of the order still has a little way to go, because having been considered by a Committee of the House it must pass through the House of Lords. I am clear about the fact that as soon as it is on the statute book, I want to engage all the statutory and voluntary agencies in helping to ensure that the guidance that flows from it is as well informed as possible. We need to listen to the experts in child welfare and child care to ensure that we get that guidance right. That work will begin immediately the order is on the statute book.