§ 15. Mr. Powellasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the purpose and effect of the retrospective subsidy payable under Statutory Rule (N.I.) No. 34, article 11; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesUnder the provisions of Article 11 of the Housing Subsidy Order (Northern Ireland) 1976 the former Northern Ireland Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning made special additional contributions to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive of £14,742,420 in March 1976. The purpose and effect of these special statutory contributions was to reduce the estimated deficit of the Executive for the financial year 1975–76. The subsidy was not retrospective but paid in respect of the year 1975–76 only, after the passage of the relevant appropriation order.
§ Mr. PowellDoes the right hon. Gentleman accept that the necessity for a parliamentary Question such as this arises from the inadequate explanatory memorandum with which these Statutory Rules are often accompanied. Will he give attention to this, especially in view of the fact that the majority of these rules cannot be called in question in the House?