Devolved Functions (Hansard, 17 June 1982)

§ Mr. Prior

Under the Northern Ireland Bill "transferred" matters, which are the responsibility of Northern Ireland Departments, will be available for devolution to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The three categories of matters classified in the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 remain unaffected by the Northern Ireland Bill. Matters classified as "transferred" are all those not listed as either "excepted" or "reserved" in schedules 2 and 3 to the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973. "Transferred" matters administered by the Northern Ireland Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Environment, Finance and Personnel, Health and Social Services and Manpower Services, are as follows:

Department of the Environment Housing (policy, funding of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive); town and country planning and comprehensive development; roads, bridges, car parking, street lighting and 330W traffic management; water and sewerage services; certain supervisory powers for local government (the district councils); internal public transport (in connection with the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company and its subsidiary operating companies for railways, buses and airports) control of pollution and protection and improvement of the urban and rural environment (including historic buildings and monuments); road safety; funding (etc.) of the Northern Ireland Fire Authority; public record office, ordnance survey, acquisition and disposal of land for public service; registration of title and deeds and of other matters relating to land; collection of regional and district rates.

Department of Health and Social Services Administration of the social security system (i.e.) all cash social services such as sickness, unemployment, retirement and supplementary benefits. Administration of health services, including hospital and specialist services, family practitioner services, and community care services. Administration of the personal social services including child care and adoption. The Department delegates the administration of the health and social services to four Health and Social Services Boards. Certain central services required by the four Boards are provided on the Department's behalf by the Central Services Agency and the Northern Ireland Staffs Council for Health and Social Services. Functions relating to the registration of births, deaths and marriages; the census, shops, betting and lotteries; intoxicating liquor and clubs.

Department of Manpower Services Industrial relations, employment protection, the employment service, industrial training (including the Youth Training Programme) counter unemployment measures, employment of the disabled, health and safety. Functions in relations to Enterprise Ulster, Fair Employment Agency, Equal Opportunities Commission, Labour Relations Agency, Health and Safety Agency.

Department of Agriculture Development of agriculture, horticultural, forestry, and fishing industries. Administration of schemes related to farm, crops, fish and livestock improvement, plant and animal health, marketing and food processing, arterial drainage and inland navigation; agricultural advisory services, education and training: agricultural, horticultural, fisheries and veterinary research; functions relating to land purchase and land improvement.

Department of Commerce Industrial promotion and development including responsibilities in relation to the Northern Ireland Development Agency and Local Enterprise Development Unit. Energy supply and conservation, tourism, harbours, mineral development, consumer protection, registration of companies and scientific advice to industry.

Department of Education Central policy, co-ordination and financial control of all aspects of the education service, library service and youth service. Oversight of the five area Education and Library Boards which are responsible for the local administration of much of these services. General responsibility for museums, arts, sport, culture, recreation, community facilities including the payment of grants to district councils in these areas.

Department of Finance and Personnel Control of expenditure of Northern Ireland Departments; liason with the United Kingdom Treasury and Northern Ireland Office on financial matters; borrowing, loan advances; economic and social planning and research; Government statistical services. General management and control of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (i.e.) policy and central arrangements for recruitment, training, promotion, career development and personnel management, welfare, retirement, pay, pensions, conditions of service. Other functions include a central management consulting and computer service for Northern Ireland Civil Service and a work study service; law reform.

The Northern Ireland Bill allows for the possibility of either full or partial devolution—of devolving all such "transferred" matters or only some of them. Under partial devolution only certain "transferred" matters—described in part II of schedule 1 to the Bill as "specified" matters—would be devolved; and during partial devolution functions would be devolved only on a 331W departmental basis. In the event of partial devolution clause 2(4) of the Bill provides that the Department of Finance and Personnel would not be devolved.

"Excepted" matters will remain permanently the responsibilty of the Parliament at Westminster. "Reserved" matters will also remain the responsibilty of the Parliament of Westminster. But once a durable and stable system of government is established in Northern Ireland, the Government will consider whether any of the "reserved" matters in the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973—which include law and order matters of great concern to the people of Northern Ireland—should be placed in the "transferred" category and become the responsibility of a devolved Administration.