§ 10. Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to repeal the payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971.
§ 15. Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent meetings he has had with groups seeking a repeal of the payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThere are no current plans to repeal the Act and there have been no meetings on this subject recently. The need for the legislation is kept under review in the light of prevailing circumstances.
§ Ms. MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were subject to deductions from(a) wages and (b) welfare benefits under the Payment for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 in the years 1979 to 1989 inclusive.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 20 June 1989]: The information requested is as follows: (a) The number of people from whom deductions from salaries have been made in the last two years under the Payments for Debt Act is approximately as follows:
Numbers 1987–88 1,862 1988–89 1,809 These figures are the total numbers of people from whom deductions from wages or salaries have been made on behalf of Northern Ireland Electricity, the Northern Ireland gas undertakings, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the rating division of the DOE (NI).
Figures for 1983–84 to 1986–87 are contained in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Sir J. Stanley) on 2 November 1987 (Official Report, column 612). Equivalent information for the years prior to 1983 could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
(b) Information in relation to deductions from welfare payments is not available.
§ Ms. MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what total levels of debt existed in each of the years from 1979 to 1989, inclusive, in each category for which deductions were made from debtors in those years under the Payment for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 20 June 1989]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. 225W Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Sir J. Stanley) on 12 February 1988 at column. 396. Comparable information for 1987–88 and 1988–89 is as follows:
£ million 1987–88 1988–89 NIHE (Rent, Rates, District Heating) 16.8 18.2 NIE (Electricity) 6.5 6.0 Rating Division 8.5 8.1 Belfast Gas 2.2 1.9