§ Mr. Clifford ForsytheTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to repeal the Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to the reply, 10 May 1990, c. 230–31]: It is our practice regularly to review the need for these emergency provisions. I have decided, following the most recent review, that the continuation of the Act is not required by present circumstances and I will therefore shortly sign an order declaring the emergency which gave rise to the provisions is now at an end. The Act will cease to be in force after a period of six months. The efficient collection of public debt nevertheless remains a priority and we intend to review procedures for recovering debt owed to public bodies to establish whether further legislative provision has a role to play.