Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Public Services: Budgetary Constraints

Wednesday 22 November 2023 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Administration has directed Northern Ireland Departments to launch public consultations on budgetary measures for sustainability using powers under the Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Act 2023.
  • The Government view difficult financial decisions as necessary for managing the budget, not as punishment for political impasse.
  • About 15 million in levelling-up funding will be made available for Northern Ireland, contingent on the restored Executive for decision-making on public service reform.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Peter Grant SNP
Northern Ireland
Context

The MP asked about discussions regarding the impact of budget cuts on public services in Northern Ireland.

Question

What discussions has the Administration had with Northern Ireland on the potential impact of budgetary constraints on the delivery of public services?

Answer from Steven Baker

Northern Ireland's finances are unsustainable, and Departments face difficult decisions. The Secretary of State has directed the Departments to launch public consultations on measures for budget sustainability using powers under the Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Act 2023.

Answered
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Q2 Chris Stephens SNP
Education Northern Ireland
Context

The MP highlighted the Prime Minister's commitment to improving education and criticized the Government for cutting £300 million from Northern Ireland's Department of Education.

Question

The Prime Minister announced a new key priority to improve education, yet his government is cutting £300 million from Northern Ireland's Department of Education. Is it not a fantasy economics approach?

Answer from Steven Baker

The Prime Minister highlighted that education is crucial, but the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council has acknowledged that Northern Ireland currently receives necessary funding. Since 2014, additional UK Government funding packages amount to £7 billion. The Department needs reform and efficiency for better integration of education.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific impact of the £300 million cut is not addressed with concrete details on how it will improve education or its effect on schools in Northern Ireland.

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Q3 Kirsten Oswald SNP
Economy Northern Ireland Local Government
Context

The MP noted recent analysis showing that Northern Ireland's budget has been cut by £2.3 billion in real terms over the past three years, with additional withheld funds causing further budget constraints.

Question

Why is it considered acceptable to punish the people of Northern Ireland for political impasse when there have been significant cuts and funding withholdings?

Answer from Steven Baker

The Government does not view it as punishment but acknowledges that difficult decisions must be taken to manage finances. The budget situation is challenging for all devolved nations, and steps are being taken to assist with balancing books in Northern Ireland.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not address the specific issue of punishing people for political impasse or the impact of withheld funding on communities.

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Q4 Peter Grant SNP
Education Northern Ireland
Context

The MP highlighted that teachers have not received a pay increase for three years, leading to an effective cut of over 20%. He questioned how this would maintain the quality of education.

Question

Teachers in Northern Ireland have had no pay increase for three years, resulting in a 20% real-term cut. How will this situation help maintain the proud record of education?

Answer from Steven Baker

Teachers have raised these concerns when meeting with him in Northern Ireland, and it is under active consideration. However, he cannot satisfy the hon. Gentleman today on addressing the pay cut situation for teachers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not provide a specific commitment or timeline to address the issue of teacher pay cuts.

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Q5 Robert Buckland Con
Economy Northern Ireland
Context

The MP noted concerns over Northern Ireland's unsuccessful bids for levelling-up funds and requested assurance that a sum is set aside for Northern Ireland projects.

Question

No Northern Ireland application was successful in the recent third phase of levelling-up funding. Can he assure us that funding has been set aside for Northern Ireland projects?

Answer from Steven Baker

The money will be made available in Northern Ireland, about £15 million. The Government are keen to work with Northern Ireland Ministers for decisions that require a restored Executive.

Answered
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Q6 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Northern Ireland Local Government
Context

The MP expressed community concerns about the exclusion of Northern Ireland from recent rounds of levelling-up funding, questioning the justification for this decision.

Question

Communities are angry about being excluded from the latest round of levelling-up funding. Will the Secretary of State commit to reversing this unjust decision immediately?

Answer from Steven Baker

The money will be spent in Northern Ireland. We are keen to work with Northern Ireland Ministers towards a restored Executive for public service reform, noting £700 million allocated through PEACEPLUS.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not provide a direct commitment to reversing the decision or indicate immediate action to address community concerns about funding exclusion.

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Q7 Richard Thomson
Northern Ireland Local Government
Context

The question arises from concerns about the UK Government's decision to hold back levelling-up funding for Northern Ireland, despite the fact that funds are being allocated in Scotland and Wales without issue.

Question

May I associate myself with the Secretary of State's remarks on the anniversary of the Birmingham pub bombings? Our thoughts continue to be with all who are affected by that tragedy to this day. The UK Government are holding back levelling-up funding for Northern Ireland, ostensibly because of the lack of a functioning Executive. However, the UK Government are seemingly content to bypass the views of the Governments in place in Edinburgh and Cardiff in allocating levelling-up funding. Is the point of consistency not about a desire to level up, but just that there is a shortage of Conservative MPs in Northern Ireland who need to shore up their re-election prospects with public cash?

Answer from Steven Baker

It is easy to throw out a cheap political line like that, but as the hon. Member has heard me say to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for South Swindon (Sir Robert Buckland) and the hon. Member for Putney (Fleur Anderson), the reality is that that levelling up money will be spent in Northern Ireland. I can certainly assure him that none of that money has appeared in my marginal seat of Wycombe—even though the whole House will know it is undoubtedly the most deserving and most beautiful constituency in the nation.

Not addressed: The specific issue of why levelling-up funding is being held back for Northern Ireland was not addressed. Instead, the response focused on dismissing the question as a political line and referenced his own constituency.

How: Dismissal Of The Question As A 'Cheap Political Line', Change Of Subject To Personal Constituency

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