The British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, announced yesterday that he would postpone the planned restructuring of the Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland until after the general election, reports Rachel Borrill.
Mr Major announced the climb down at a meeting with the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley and the Alliance leader, Lord Alderdice, who all opposed the plan.
The British government had proposed to cut the number of boards from five to three, to save an estimated £2 million sterling.