HC Deb 09 April 1981 vol 2 cc1106-7
10. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in considering proposals for the better government of the Province.

Mr. Humphrey Atkins

As I told the House in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton (Mr. Watson) on 19 March, I have decided to make the machinery of government in Northern Ireland more efficient and accountable to my direction and control, and to merge the control functions of the Northern Ireland Departments of Finance and of the Civil Service. Consideration of the best way of achieving this merger is due to be completed very soon. An important part of our purpose is to enable the Administration to deal more effectively and vigorously with economic development and social affairs in Northern Ireland. I hope to be able to make further proposals to the House during the summer.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

As about half the Northern Ireland Roman Catholics now support the Union, but there is disagreement on forms of devolution, should we not decide that the improvement of administration and local government in the Province should rest upon the supremacy of one Parliament zealous for equal rights under the Crown?

Mr. Atkins

Yes, Sir, it does, and it will continue to do so. On the other hand, the parties to whom my hon. Friend referred have all stated that they want greater democratic control to be in the hands of the people elected in the Province. I agree with them. That is what the Government will continue to seek to do, but until we can find a way forward it is our business to seek to make the machinery of government in Northern Ireland as efficient as we can.

Mr. James A. Dunn

Will the Secretary of State reconsider his decision to merge the Department of the Civil Service and the Department of Finance, because there will not necessarily be any advantage if that is done? At the end of the day, there are problems of enrolment into the Civil Service that cannot be dealt with through the Department of Finance. I urge the Secretary of State to reconsider his decision.

Mr. Atkins

No, Sir, I do not propose to reconsider my decision. I arrived at it after careful consideration. With a total of about 32,000 people, there is no need for a separate Department of the Civil Service.