§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGE rose to move, That the Draft Financial Provisions (Northern Ireland) Order 1974, laid before the House on 21st November, be approved. The noble Lord said: My Lords, this is a financial measure. It is the latest addition to a regular series of measures which have been enacted in Northern Ireland at intervals to deal with miscellaneous matters of a financial nature. The main purpose is to increase statutory limits on capital expenditure on certain services and on lending by the Northern Ireland Government Loans Fund. The Order does not vote 592 or appropriate any additional expenditure. It will still be necessary for Northern Ireland Departments to seek the approval of Parliament for expenditure within the proposed limits on the services concerned by submitting Supply Estimates in the normal way.
§ In addition, the Order proposes a formula to fix the maximum size of the Northern Ireland Civil Contingencies Fund, and removes the duplicate provision for the statutory limit on capital expenditure on school meals. This Order, as a financial Order, is something for which I think a brief introduction is appropriate in this House. It will be considered in another place on Thursday. My Lords, I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Draft Financial Provisions (Northern Ireland) Order 1974, laid before the House on 21st November, be approved.—(Lord Donaldson of Kingsbridge.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.