Northern Ireland

I, too, welcome you back, Mr. Speaker. I am sure that you are very happy to be released from what I think that you described as your medical house arrest. May I ask the Secretary of State about the contradictory message that comes from this statement? He says that the Assembly will have opportunities to prepare for government and discuss crucial issues such as education. A couple of paragraphs later, he says that he will not delay in implementing vital reforms. Indeed, we have heard today that some of those are being pushed through later this afternoon. Will he make it clear what it is to be? Is he going to put on hold those parts of Government policy, such as the education reforms, which are opposed by 62 per cent. of people in Northern Ireland, and the changes in public administration, or are we going to see a disgraceful flurry of activity as he pushes through legislation that he knows does not command widespread cross-community support and would never be accepted by a devolved Administration were one up and running in Northern Ireland?