MEMBERS of the Northern Ireland grand committee announced yesterday by Mr John Major will be able to question ministers directly on government policy relating to Northern Ireland.
Announcing the reforms at the Conservative Party Conference in Bournemouth, the British Prime Minister said: "MPs from there should be able to question the ministers and scrutinise government policy directly in the grand committee meeting and sometimes in Northern Ireland."
All the Northern MPs will be members of the committee, which will have similar powers to the Scottish and Welsh grand committees. The government extended their powers last year in an attempt to reassert Scottish and Welsh political and economic roles within the Union.
Under the new proposals, the committee can also hold sessions outside the House of Commons, allowing the public to listen to the debates. "It brings parliament to the people, making for better government," explained the Scottish Secretary, Mr Michael Forsyth.
Any parliamentary bills relating to Scotland are now referred to the Scottish grand committee for consideration. Members can debate the second and third readings of Scottish bills, preferably sitting in Scotland, so that amendments can be discussed before any legislation.
Presumably these powers will also be extended to the Northern Ireland grand committee.
After announcing these new proposals for the Scottish grand committee last November, Mr Forsyth said he believed it proved the government's commitment to Scotland and its importance in the Union.
"The Scottish grand committee will thus assume an increasingly pivotal role in the parliamentary government of Scotland, in bringing government closer to the people and in underpinning the Union."