asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the amount of money collected under the Payments for Debt (Costs of Collection) Order (Northern Ireland) 1974; whether the amount collected covered the costs of the collection of debts involved during the period in which the order was in force; and how the costs of collection were met before the order came into force and after it was revoked.

Approximately £13,000. This amount did not cover the costs of collection during the period. Costs of collection were and are being defrayed from public funds as administrative expenses.