The First and Deputy First Ministers will not be supporting a civil prosecution against those believed to be responsible for the Omagh bombing.
Four former Secretaries - Mr Peter Mandelson, Mr Peter Brooke, Mr Tom King and Lord Rees - have endorsed the campaign to raise funds for it. During question time Mr Oliver Gibson of the DUP, whose niece Esther died in the 1998 bombing, asked if Mr David Trimble and Mr Seamus Mallon would "make a statement on their commitment and attitude" to the case.
Mr Trimble said he and Mr Mallon had sought legal advice and would not be involved in their official capacities. They were "anxious to see that justice is done in an appropriate way".
Meanwhile, an increase in the "regional rate", for regionally supplied services, was approved. The Finance Minister, Mr Mark Durkan, last month cut the increase in the domestic rate from 8 to 7 per cent. Mr Durkan said public expenditure had increased "right across the board".
The Speaker ruled the term "Papish bigot" would be regarded from now on as unparliamentary language. Lord Alderdice made the ruling after the term was used by Mr Ian Paisley jnr of the DUP last week. The Speaker said he would not punish the MLA as this had not been made clear to him beforehand.