My Lords, I thought that it might be helpful to the House if I said a few words about the expected timing of proceedings on the Northern Ireland Bill next week. The Bill arrived from the Commons and had its First Reading last night. It was printed this morning and is available in the Printed Paper Office. The Second Reading of the Bill will be taken on Monday as first business; the list of speakers for the Second Reading opened this morning in the Government Whips’ Office. The Committee stage will be taken as first business on Wednesday 11 March, with Report and Third Reading being taken later that day, after proceedings on the Marine and Coastal Access Bill.

To assist the House in considering the Bill, the Public Bill Office will accept amendments in advance of Second Reading; amendments can be tabled from today and a Marshalled List of amendments will be available on Tuesday morning next week. The deadline for tabling amendments to appear on the Marshalled List will be 5 pm on Monday or 30 minutes after the end of Second Reading on Monday, whichever is the later. These arrangements have been agreed by the usual channels to allow the Bill to get Royal Assent on Thursday 12 March. I shall set out next week the likely timings for Committee and Report.