§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) by what percentage the cash limits for 1980–81 for Northern Ireland will be greater than the limits for 1979–80 after account is taken of the various increase orders promulgated by the Department of the Environment in Great Britain;
(2) whether he will give an assurance that the higher costs of welfare and allied services in Northern Ireland due to general deprivation in regard to housing, employment and the prevalance of low incomes, will be covered by the cash limits for 1980–81;
(3) when he expects to be able to announce the cash limits on expenditure of district councils, education boards, health boards, and other 100 per cent. grant-aided public bodies.
§ Mr. RossiIt is the intention to announce the 1980–81 cash limit for Northern Ireland Departments on Budget day.
The implications for 100 per cent. grant-aided public bodies of the Northern Ireland cash limits will be notified to those bodies individually by the sponsoring Departments in the normal way. Expenditure by district councils is not, in itself, cash limited though cash limits controls apply to central Government grants to district councils.
In determining the allocation of resources, the Government seek, so far as is possible, to take account of social and economic circumstances in Northern Ireland.