HC Deb 09 December 1982 vol 33 cc600-1W
Mr. William Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will request the Northern Ireland Assembly to debate the future of the New University of Ulster;

(2) if he will request the Northern Ireland Assembly to debate the Black report on fishing in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Prior

The principal policy decisions on the Black report and the future of the New University of Ulster have already been taken by the Government. It is, however, for the Assembly to determine what matters it will debate. I will, of course, refer to the Assembly, in due course, any draft Orders in Council necessary to implement the Government's decision on these matters.

Mr. William Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Reporta list of the various orders and other reports and papers which he intends to ask the Northern Ireland Assembly to debate in the next three months, detailing when each such order, report and paper was first published and the date by which comments were invited from interested parties.

Mr. Prior

I have already referred the following proposals for draft orders to the Assembly for consideration:

Title of proposal Date of publication Closing date for comments by interested parties
General Consumer Council (Northern Ireland) Order 30 September 1982 8 November 1982
Rates (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 29 November 1982 7 January 1983
Licensing (International Airports) (Northern Ireland) Order 3 December 1982 14 January 1983

In the next three months it is my intention to refer the following proposals, which have been amended to take account of comments received during the consultation period, to the Assembly for consideration:

Title of proposal Date of publication Closing date for comments by interested parties
Property (Discharge of Mortgage by Receipt (Northern Ireland) Order 25 February 1982 8 April 1982
Access to the Countryside (Northern Ireland Order 15 February 1982 13 April 1982
Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 8 July 1982 3 September 1982

In addition, the following proposals for draft orders will be referred within the next three months to the Assembly, as soon as they are published. Proposal for a draft Housing (Northern Ireland) Order Proposal for a draft Fire Service (Northern Ireland) Order Proposal for a draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order

Assembly Members may, if they so wish, debate the numerous departmental reports which have been sent to them since October. It is not my present intention to request the Assembly specifically to debate any of these reports, but several are already the subject of motions tabled for debate. I shall ask the Assembly to consider the following consultative papers to be published before the end of February 1983:

  1. (a) Consultative document on education and training of mentally handicapped children.
  2. (b) Discussion paper on co-operation between statutory and voluntary sectors in the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland.
  3. (c) Regional strategic plan for the health and personal social services.
  4. (d) Consultative document on planning control.