§ Mr. Powellasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what provisions of the Inner Urban Areas Bill there are no equivalent provisions or powers in force in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. CarterThe different powers of local authorities and the different planning procedures make the provisions in the Inner Urban Areas Bill inappropriate to Northern Ireland. Some powers broadly similar to those in the Bill are already available to Government Departments in Northern Ireland and can be applied to inner urban areas where special social need exists. However, the rowers differ in scope and in detailed application. There are no Northern Ireland legislative provisions comparable to those in Clause 3 of the Bill relating to industrial improvement areas. Neither are there powers which are comparable in every respect to the provisions of Clauses 2, 3, 5 and 6 relating to the making of loans and or grants towards land acquisition works, the improvement of amenities, site preparation and industrial rentals respectively, but grants are available to certain industries for some of these purposes under the Industrial Investment (General Assistance) Acts (NI) 1966–71 and the Industries Development Acts (NI) 1966 and 1971. Asitance under these Acts is660W made available mainly to manufacturing industry and in the case of the Industries Development Acts is normally conditional upon meeting criteria relating to employment to be provided by the undertaking concerned and its viability. The Northern Ireland Departments of Commerce and Environment are currently considering whether further legislation should be proposed to deal with inner city problems in Northern Ireland.