§ 14. Mr. Litterickasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to introduce legislation to repeal the 1744 Payments of Debt (Emergency Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Act 1971 during the present parliamentary Session.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. James A. Dunn)No, Sir. My right hon. Friend is, however, actively considering the whole problem of public debt in Northern Ireland and hopes to be able to make a statement shortly.
§ Mr. LitterickDoes my hon. Friend agree that the circumstances which prompted the passage of this Act six years ago have now changed radically and that the continuance of the practice of the unilateral reduction of social security benefits and wages by the State is a dangerous precedent for the rest of the United Kingdom?