§ 8.40 p.m.
§ Lord ELTONMy Lords, I beg to move that the Draft Appropriation (No. 3) (Northern Ireland) Order 1979, which was laid before this House on 8th November, be approved. The Draft Order would authorise the issue out of the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund of additional 1264 financial requirement of Northern Ireland Departments in the current year. The amount being sought is £33 million and would bring the total Estimates provision to date for 1979–80 to £1,675 million. The first schedule to the draft order lists the services for which the extra provision is required, and further information is contained in the autumn Supplementary Estimates volume which is available in the Library.
The largest amount sought relates to agricultural support, where some £17 million will be used for production, processing and marketing schemes. Of the £14 million required by the Department of Health and Social Services, about £12 million is needed for the higher rates of supplementary benefit and other allowances payable from November 1979. Those two points draw this debate very closely to the one that we have just concluded. I commend the order to the House. My Lords, I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 8th November, be approved—(Lord Elton.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.