Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Budget

Wednesday 27 November 2024 · 10 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government provided Northern Ireland with an 18.2 billion funding settlement for 2025-26, a 1.5 billion increase from the previous year.
  • The autumn Budget includes provisions to support integrated education, reflecting public support for such initiatives.
  • The Secretary of State stated that the Executive must outline clear steps for NHS and broader public service reform, addressing long waiting lists.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Deirdre Costigan Lab Ealing Southall
Economy Northern Ireland
Context

The Autumn Budget has been released and now impacts Northern Ireland.

Question

What assessment he has made of the impact of the autumn Budget 2024 on Northern Ireland?

Answer from Hilary Benn

This Government are providing the Executive with an £18.2 billion funding settlement for 2025-26, a £1.5 billion increase from this year and the largest since devolution. It is now up to the Executive to decide how to allocate these funds.

Answered
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Q2 Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green
Education
Context

The Good Friday agreement mandates integrated education, which has received continued support from recent budgetary allocations.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that the autumn Budget gives continued support for integrated education?

Answer from Hilary Benn

I certainly will, given public polls show strong support. About 8% of pupils are in integrated schools now; we hope to see that number increase.

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Q3 Mark Ferguson Lab Gateshead Central and Whickham
Economy Northern Ireland
Context

The recent Budget has provided substantial funding to the Northern Ireland Executive.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that the recent Budget gives the Northern Ireland Executive an opportunity to focus on economic growth?

Answer from Hilary Benn

The funding is more than anticipated, but it's about making choices and setting priorities with available resources. The Budget provides a sound foundation for decision-making.

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Q4 Deirdre Costigan Lab Ealing Southall
NHS Northern Ireland
Context

The longest NHS waiting lists are currently found in Northern Ireland, necessitating reforms.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that the Executive needs to set out clear steps for NHS and broader public service reform?

Answer from Hilary Benn

The longest waiting lists are in Northern Ireland, unacceptable for those waiting too long. A plan for reform exists; people want to see it implemented.

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Q5 Carla Lockhart DUP Upper Bann
Northern Ireland Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The change to agricultural property relief has led to a rally of 6,000 farmers opposing the decision.

Question

Will the Government acknowledge that their figures do not reflect average farms and will this result in family farm break-ups?

Answer from Hilary Benn

I have spoken to relevant ministers about this. The changes are unwelcome, but necessary given fiscal constraints. There is a difference in how many farms will be affected; estimates show around 500 claims annually.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Acknowledging the impact on families' farms

How: Under Review, Difficult Decisions

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Q6 Alex Easton Ind North Down
Policing & Resources Northern Ireland
Context

Police recruitment issues and the lack of a new police college are pressing concerns.

Question

Will he give a commitment that he will speak with ministers about ensuring construction of the police college at Kinnegar?

Answer from Hilary Benn

That is an issue for the Executive. The position on funding has improved; more money from the Budget is given to the PSNI and UK Government increased security funding.

Not addressed: Commitment to discuss police college construction in Kinnegar

How: For The Executive

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Q7 John Cooper Con Dumfries and Galloway
Economy Employment Local Government
Context

The increase in employer national insurance contributions affects hospitality businesses negatively.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that increasing national insurance contributions harms hospitality businesses and threatens jobs?

Answer from Hilary Benn

Businesses in Northern Ireland are looking forward to the future, despite challenges from the increase in employer NI contributions. The fiscal situation needed addressing; we're fixing it now.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Recognition of negative impacts on hospitality businesses

How: Looking Forward, Fiscal Inheritance

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Q8 Alex Burghart Con Brentwood and Ongar
Northern Ireland Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Secretary of State suggested that the Treasury had not yet conducted a detailed analysis of how the Budget would affect farmers in Northern Ireland.

Question

Last week, the Secretary of State suggested to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that the Treasury had not yet conducted a detailed analysis of how the Budget will affect farmers in Northern Ireland. Has he now asked it to do so?

Answer from Hilary Benn

The Treasury has conducted an analysis of the overall number of farms that it thinks will be affected. It is important that people look at all the arrangements that we have put in place, including how individuals can pass £1.5 million on to family members and couples up to £3 million when all the allowances are added together, as well as interest-free payments over 10 years.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address whether the Secretary of State has asked the Treasury to conduct a detailed analysis specific to Northern Ireland's farmers.

How: Changed Subject

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Q9 Alex Burghart Con Brentwood and Ongar
Northern Ireland Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

There is disagreement nationally about the figures, with the Government stating that not many farms will be affected while experts say many more farms will be impacted.

Question

As the Secretary of State said, there is disagreement nationally about the figures. On one side, we have the Government who say that not many farms will be affected. On the other side, we have the experts who say that very many farms will be affected. Transparency will help everyone. Will the Secretary of State commit to asking the Chancellor to publish detailed Treasury working on the Budget's impact on farms in Northern Ireland so that independent experts can check their figures?

Answer from Hilary Benn

To understand the impact, we have to look at the ownership structure of each individual farm. I am not entirely sure whether the hon. Gentleman is advocating that the Government should do that for all farms right across the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address the specific request for a detailed Treasury analysis on Northern Irish farms.

How: Changed Subject

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Q10 Jessica Brown-Fuller Lib Dem Chichester
Northern Ireland Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Total income from farming in Northern Ireland fell by 44% last year amid volatile markets, soaring costs and declining output. More than 6,000 farmers recently gathered to highlight the impact that changes to agricultural property relief will have.

Question

Total income from farming in Northern Ireland fell by 44% last year amid volatile markets, soaring costs and declining output. More than 6,000 Northern Ireland farmers recently gathered in the Eikon exhibition centre to highlight the impact that the changes to agricultural property relief will have on their sector. With dairy farming facing serious economic challenges and gross agricultural output declining, can the Secretary of State commit to publishing a full impact assessment of APR removal for Northern Ireland's farming sector, as well as its wider implications?

Answer from Hilary Benn

As I indicated in answer to the same question a moment ago, until we understand the ownership structure of each farm, I do not see how an impact assessment that would answer the hon. Member's question could be done.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address the specific request for publishing an impact assessment of APR removal.

How: Changed Subject

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