Mr. John David Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has yet made a decision about the future of local government in Londonderry city and district following the one-year-old boycott of the present district council by all its Unionist members; whether he has considered the appointment of a commission to replace the boycotted council; whether he has considered the suggestion of two district councils on either side of the River Foyle; and if he is yet in a position to make a statement which would contribute to a resolution of the present boycott and impasse.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe absence of some members from meetings of Derry city council is regrettable, but the Government have no plans to interfere in the running of the council, which has continued to exercise its functions as prescribed by the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972.
The final recommendations of the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner, who reported in 1984, have been accepted without modification and given statutory effect. The commissioner did not recommend any alteration in the number or boundaries of local government districts in the area and it is not proposed to make any change in the number of local government districts.