Excepted and reserved matters

10Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland

1

In paragraph 21 of Schedule 2 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (excepted matters), after “Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973” insert “, other than section 36(1)(c),”.

2

In paragraph 16 of Schedule 3 to that Act (reserved matters), omit “functions and procedures of the”.

3

Section 4 of that Act (transferred, excepted and reserved matters) is amended as follows.

4

In subsection (2), for “and (3)” substitute “to (3D)”.

5

After subsection (3) insert—

3A

The Secretary of State shall not lay before Parliament under subsection (2) the draft of an Order amending paragraph 16 of Schedule 3 (Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland) unless the Secretary of State has, at least three months before laying the draft, laid a report before Parliament.

3B

The report under subsection (3A) must set out the Secretary of State’s view of the effect (if any) that the Order would have on—

a

the independence of the Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland;

b

the application of the principle that persons should be selected for appointment to the Northern Ireland Civil Service on merit on the basis of fair and open competition; and

c

the impartiality of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.