§ 6.55 p.m.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE (Lord Donaldson of Kingsbridge)My Lords, I beg to move, that the Local Government (Reduction of General Grant) (Northern Ireland) Order 1975, laid before this House on 7th August, be approved. My Lords, by reason of urgency this Order has been 90 made without a draft having been approved by a Resolution of each House of Parliament. The Order which came into operation on 8th August confers on the Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning power to reduce the general grant payable to a district council if that council pays remuneration in excess of the guidelines contained in the White Paper The Attack on Inflation (Cmnd. 6151). This power is similar to that which applies in Great Britain where under Section 4 of the Remuneration Charges and Grants Act the Rate Support Grant payable to local authorities can be reduced.
The Order is limited in time by Section 1 of the Remuneration Charges and Grants Act 1975 and so will lapse when that section does—either on 31st July next year or later if the main Act should be extended. It is the hope of the Government that the powers contained in this Order may never have to be used. My Lords, I beg to move that the Order be approved.
§ Moved, That the Local Government (Reduction of General Grant) (Northern Ireland) Order 1975, laid before the House on 7th August, be approved.—(Lord Donaldson of Kingsbridge.)
§ Lord BELSTEADMy Lords, I support this Order. From these Benches, I think it is fair to claim, we have made it clear previously that we believe that the £6 limit is a necessary step at the present time. I am sure that local government in Northern Ireland will accept that all the United Kingdom ought to come under the same pay restraints at the present time. I should like to ask the noble Lord one question. I am interested to know whether any agreement has been reached between councils in Northern Ireland and their staffs on pay for the current year in the way that has already happened here in Great Britain. With that one question, I associate myself with the Government's stance on this Order.
§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGEMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for supporting this Order. As regards the question he asks, as I understand it this matter is still under discussion, but I will in due course write to the noble Lord on the exact position. I do not think there is anything to add, 91 except to thank the noble Lord for supporting us.