Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections and Periods of Suspension) Act 2003

5 Supplementary provisions U.K.

(1) The Schedule to the Northern Ireland Act 2000 (provisions applicable during suspension) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 7 (subordinate instruments, etc), after sub-paragraph (6) there is inserted—

“(6A) Without prejudice to any requirement under this Schedule, so much of any enactment or instrument as requires any instrument or document to be laid before the Assembly does not apply during any period while section 1 is in force when the Assembly is dissolved.”

(3) In paragraph 11 (audit), after sub-paragraph (3) there is added—

“(4) While section 1 is in force, Article 6(2) of the Audit (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (expenses and accounts of Northern Ireland Audit Office) shall have effect as if for the words “the committee established under section 66 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998”, and “that committee”, there were substituted “ the Department ”.”

(4) After paragraph 11, there is added—

“11A “Use of resources and resource accounts

“11A While section 1 is in force, the Government Resources and Accounts Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 shall have effect as if—

(a) in section 6(4), for the words “an estimate is approved by the Assembly for that body or person in respect of each financial year” there were substituted “ an estimate was approved by the Assembly for that body or person in respect of the financial year ending 31st March 2003 ”;

(b) in section 9(1), for the words “A Northern Ireland department for which an estimate is approved by the Assembly in respect of a financial year shall prepare accounts (to be known as resource accounts) for that year” there were substituted “ Each Northern Ireland department shall prepare accounts (to be known as resource accounts) for each financial year ”; and

(c) in section 13(1), for the words “an estimate is approved by the Assembly for any body or person in respect of any financial year” there were substituted “ the use of resources by any body or person is authorised in respect of any financial year by Act of the Assembly ””.

(5) In paragraph 13 (Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints), after sub-paragraph (2) there is added—

“(3) During any period while section 1 is in force when the Assembly is dissolved, any complaint under the Ombudsman (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 may be made to, and referred to the Ombudsman by, a member of the House of Commons; and references to a member of the Assembly in Articles 9, 11, 16 and 18 of that Order shall be construed accordingly.”

(6) After paragraph 13, there is added—

“14 “Financial assistance for political parties

“14 While section 1 is in force, the Financial Assistance for Political Parties Act (Northern Ireland) 2000 shall have effect as if—

(a) in section 1, for the words “assisting members of the Assembly who are connected with such parties to perform their Assembly duties” there were substituted “ assisting them to engage in political discussions about a return to devolved government ”; and

(b) in section 2(2), paragraph (c) were omitted.”