HL Deb 30 July 1974 vol 353 cc2291-2

10.37 p.m.

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE (LORD DONALDSON OF KINGSBRIDGE) rose to move that the Appropriation (Northern Ireland) Order 1974 be approved. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move the Order standing in my name on the Order Paper. The Joint Committee met to-day and have reported on this Order, which now comes before your Lordships for consideration. I know that this House is, in general, precluded from making decisions on financial matters, but even so I think it might be helpful if I were to explain briefly the background to this Order. In March of this year, the Northern Ireland Assembly passed a Consolidated Fund Measure which authorised the issue from the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund of amounts of £32,410,600 in respect of the 1973–74 Spring Supplementary Estimates approved by the Assembly, and £229,026,400 in respect of a Vote on account of the Estimates for Northern Ireland services for the current financial year. These amounts were not, however, appropriated to particular services, as it was the intention in accordance with the normal practice to appropriate them at the same time as the balance of the main Estimates. The main Estimates were in the process of being put to the Assembly at the time when the Assembly was prorogued.

The purpose of this Appropriation Order is two-fold. In the first place, it authorises the issue from the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland of the balance of the total provision for the current year. Secondly, it authorises the appreciation of this sum, the Vote on Account and the Spring Supplementary Estimates for 1973–74. The total of the Northern Ireland Estimates for 1974–75 is some £618 million. This compares with a figure of £625 million for 1973–74, but about £65 million of that figure was in respect of law and order services which became the responsibility of Westminster under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973. The provision in this year's main Estimates therefore represents an increase of approximately £58 million on Estimates provision for 1973–74. Well over half of the increase, however, is attributable to the full year effect of local government reorganisation, as a result of which responsibility for certain major services such as education, roads, water and sewerage was transferred to central Government. My Lords, I beg to move.

Moved, That the Appropriation (Northern Ireland) Order 1974 be approved.—(Lord Donaldson of Kingsbridge.)

10.41 p.m.

LORD BELSTEAD

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his explanation of this Order, and, as a result of that I have no questions to put to him. May I put one point, which is an important one, and I put it to him for the second or third time during this Session. In reply to the debate which was held on June 3 and 4 the noble Lord was good enough to tell the House that his right honourable friend would be considering how these Parliamentary Orders for Northern Ireland could be considered in Northern Ireland before they come to both Houses of Parliament. May I express the hope that this perhaps could be attended to during the Recess? During the prorogation of the Assembly it must surely be desirable for delegated legislation to be looked at in Northern Ireland before it comes to Parliament. I hope that the noble Lord will forgive me for putting this point once again to him.

LORD DONALDSON OF KINGS-BRIDGE

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State flew off this morning to far distant places, where I hope he will have a reasonable rest. When he comes back, this is one of the matters which will unquestionably exercise his attention.

On Question, Motion agreed to.