Sir John Biggs-Davisionasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the effect of the operation on local authorities and other public bodies of the current abstention from participation of the Unionist parties.
§ Mr. Needham18 district councils with Unionist majorities have adjourned in protest at the Anglo-Irish agreement and have delegated certain functions to the clerks. So far this has caused no major disruption to local authority services. However, it appears that these councils may not meet to make a rate for 1986–87. Failure to do so would mean that from 1 April 1986 the councils would not have enough money to ensure the delivery of local authority services.
Public bodies have not been seriously affected by the abstention of Unionist members.