§ Dr. Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he proposes to reform local government finance in Ulster; and what proposals he has to introduce a community charge in the Province.
§ Mr. StanleyThe Green Paper of January 1986, "Paying for Local Government", which forms the basis of the Great Britain reforms, made it clear that the proposals did not apply to Northern Ireland. This reflects the fact that local government arrangements in Northern Ireland are significantly different from those in the rest of the United Kingdom.
My right hon. Friend has therefore decided to monitor the development of the proposals in England and Wales before deciding whether, or to what extent, they should be applied in Northern Ireland.