HC Deb 05 December 1983 vol 50 cc74-5W
Mr. Peter Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many statutory and administrative rules have been commented upon by the Finance and Personnel Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly; and which of these have been accepted.

Mr. Butler

The Finance and Personnel Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly has considered two statutory rules both of which are now in operation. The Committee endorsed the draft Ulster Savings Certificates (Index Linked) Regulations which was made on 29 July 1983 and came into effect from 12 September 1983. However, the Committee, while welcoming the draft Commissioner for Complaints (Extension of Jurisdiction) Order (Northern Ireland) 1983, recommended that those public bodies listed in the draft 1983 order should be added to part II, schedule 1 of the Commissioner for Complaints Act (Northern Ireland) 1969. This recommendation was incorporated in the order which was made on 10 August 1983 and comes into effect from 1 December 1983.

Mr. Peter Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) which of the recommendations contained in the various reports of the Finance and Personnel Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly have been accepted by the Government;

(2) how many reports have been issued by the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee on Finance and Personnel; and on what subjects.

Mr. Butler

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee on Finance and Personnel has issued six reports on the following subjects:

  • Report of consideration on proposal for draft Property (Discharge of Mortgage by Receipt) (Northern Ireland) Order.
  • Report of consideration on the discussion paper on the determining of the regional rate in Northern Ireland.
  • Interim report on the rating liability of young farmers' clubs.
  • Public expenditure priorities.
  • Additionality of receipts from European funds. Cash limit adjustment 1983–84.

By 31 October, the Government had accepted the following recommendations in the reports:

  1. 1. Report of consideration on the discussion paper on the determining of the regional rate in Northern Ireland.
    1. (i) The Government have indicated their willingness to give the Assembly as much time as is possible to consider matters referred to it, whilst indicating that there will inevitably be factors limiting the Government's room for manoeuvre.
    2. (ii) The Government have indicated that they will be happy to give the Assembly all possible assistance in regard to the monitoring of the new arrangements for determining the regional rate in Northern Ireland.
  2. 2. Interim report on rating liabilities of young farmers' clubs.

The Government accepted the recommendation that an investigation by the Department of Finance and Personnel of relevant rating practice in Great Britain should be completed as expeditiously as possible and a report of the investigation was forwarded to the Finance and Personnel Committee.

The Government have also indicated that they would be taking the views expressed by the Assembly in its report on public expenditure priorities into account as the Public Expenditure Survey proceeded and would then be responding in detail to the various recommendations.