52Reports etc.

1

The Commission must send to the Department of Justice a copy of—

a

each programme prepared by the Commission and approved by the Department of Justice,

b

each set of proposals for reform formulated by the Commission pursuant to such a programme, and

c

each annual report of the Commission.

2

The Department of Justice must lay before the Northern Ireland Assembly a copy of each document received by it under subsection (1).

3

The Commission must send to the Secretary of State a copy of—

a

any programme prepared by the Commission and approved by the Department of Justice which includes—

i

the examination of any branch of law relating (in whole or in part) to a reserved matter or an excepted matter, or

ii

the consolidation or repeal of legislation relating (in whole or in part) to a reserved matter or an excepted matter,

b

any set of proposals for reform formulated by the Commission pursuant to an approved programme which relate (in whole or in part) to a reserved matter or an excepted matter, and

c

any annual report of the Commission which contains anything relevant to a reserved matter or an excepted matter.

4

The Secretary of State must lay before each House of Parliament a copy of each document received by the Secretary of State under subsection (3).

5

After a copy of a document has been—

a

laid before the Assembly in accordance with subsection (2), and

b

if so required by subsection (4), laid before Parliament in accordance with that subsection,

the Commission must arrange for the document to be published.

6

In this section “reserved matter” and “excepted matter” have the meanings given by section 4 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

7

Section 41(3) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954290 applies for the purposes of subsection (2) in relation to the laying of a copy of a document as it applies in relation to the laying of a statutory document under an enactment.