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I am tempted to say that our 108 MLAs have been evacuated to make way for today's World Rally Championships. But I can remember being reminded as a trainee journalist that unless you want to get very anatomical, buildings, not people, are evacuated.

So let's just say that the Stormont Hotel is heaving with a mixture of politicians and petrol heads. As the Public Accounts Committee considers the government's use of outside consultants, the rally staff in the Stormont estate across the road are putting the finishing touches to an enormous grandstand, a special bridge, and the pit stops sited in the Assembly car parks.

The rally organisers say the event will showcase Stormont in more than 50 countries across the world.

Princess Anne is in attendance. Earlier this week the Deputy First Minister denied he was "snubbing" her, as reported in the Sunday Times, but added that he had never had any engagement in his diary to meet a member of the Royal family.

Ian Paisley will be there, but he may be looking to make an early exit as the DUP is holding its annual dinner at a Belfast hotel tonight. So if several DUP MLAs slide out of the Stormont side entrance it's not a walk out.

Meanwhile party sources insist that holding the dinner on November 15th does not mean they are celebrating the 22nd anniversary of the Anglo Irish agreement. They haven't gone that far yet...

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We are slowly beginning to get some Executive bills through the assembly, but so far I haven't yet seen any sign of a private member's bill. But we shall have to watch the Green MLA Brian Wilson closely on this score. His party co-chair Kelly Andrews has called for the drafting of a breast feeding bill, bringing Northern Ireland into line with Scotland. Ms Andrews raised the issue after hearing from a young North Down mother who was asked to stop breast feeding her baby in a supermarket dining area.

So, time to get drafting Brian.

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In my morning post I came across a letter from the Electoral Office. They are consulting me officially on one of their new policies. I have been trying to make up my mind on their proposals for their employees' car parking.

I know Equality Screening under Section 75 of the 1998 Northern Ireland Act is very important. But I cannot say I have a lot to say on this topic, other than to wonder about all the other consultation letters winging their way around the system in relation to similar policies, and how many trees have been cut down as a consequence.

But just to make things absolutely clear, I approve of the Electoral Office's plans to designate a space for drivers with disabilities.

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