Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Spring Forecast

Wednesday 25 March 2026 · 6 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Northern Ireland will receive over 390 million in additional funding over the next three years, including 231 million in 2026-27.
  • The Government have provided record support to the Northern Ireland Executive and are encouraging them to produce a balanced, multi-year budget.
  • The Secretary of State denies ignoring real issues facing the Northern Ireland economy and claims to be working towards stability and support for the region.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Douglas McAllister Lab West Dunbartonshire
Northern Ireland
Context

The MP is questioning the potential economic impact of the 2026 spring forecast on Northern Ireland.

Question

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the spring forecast 2026 on Northern Ireland?

Answer from Hilary Benn

Northern Ireland will directly benefit from the spring forecast, with almost £390 million in additional funding to the Executive over the next three years, including £231 million in 026-27. That is money that the Executive can use to deliver on its priorities, which include transforming public services and promoting economic growth.

Answered
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Q2 Douglas McAllister Lab West Dunbartonshire
Northern Ireland
Context

The MP is questioning the necessity for the Northern Ireland Executive to produce a balanced, multi-year budget with the record level of investment announced.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that, with that record level of investment, it is now for the Executive to produce a balanced, multi-year budget that will deliver for the people of Northern Ireland?

Answer from Hilary Benn

I agree with my hon. Friend. The Government have taken a decision to enable the Executive, if they wish to do so, to agree a multi-year budget. Discussions are taking place, we have had the open book exercise and I hope that the Northern Ireland Executive, given those considerable additional resources, will be able to find a way forward.

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Q3 Sammy Wilson DUP East Antrim
Economy Northern Ireland
Context

The MP is questioning the government's refusal to take action on economic issues and their inactivity regarding costs of the Windsor framework.

Question

Why are the Government ignoring the real issues that face the Northern Ireland economy, through both their actions and their inactivity?

Answer from Hilary Benn

I do not accept the right hon. Gentleman's characterisation of what the Government are doing. We have brought economic stability to the country after the disaster of the previous Government, we have given record support to the Northern Ireland Executive and we are working through our negotiations with the EU to reduce the impact of the Windsor framework.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP's characterisation of what the government is doing

How: I Do Not Accept

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Q4 Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower
Northern Ireland
Context

The MP is questioning the Secretary of State's work on conversations to find alternative funding sources for the charity sector because of disappointment over local growth fund split.

Question

Will he update the House on his conversations?

Answer from Hilary Benn

Yes; I am working hard, together with the voluntary sector and, I hope, the Executive to find a way forward. There is £9 million available in resource to fund those schemes from 1 April.

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Q5 Robin Swann Ulster Unionist Party South Antrim
Northern Ireland
Context

The MP is questioning the Secretary of State's commitment to publishing findings from the open book exercise on how Departments of Northern Ireland Executive are spending their block grant allocations.

Question

Will the Secretary of State commit to publishing their findings?

Answer from Hilary Benn

There will be a report from the Treasury to the Northern Ireland Executive. It is for the Executive to take the decision, but I say from this Dispatch Box that I would welcome its publication.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The commitment to publishing findings

How: It Is For The Executive To Take The Decision

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Q6 Mike Wood Con Kingswinford and South Staffordshire
Economy Taxation
Context

The MP is questioning whether the Secretary of State agrees with Unite the union that the government's disastrous national insurance rises have led to job losses in the hospitality sector.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree with Unite the union, of which I know he is a member, that this is the result of the Government's disastrous national insurance rises?

Answer from Hilary Benn

The national insurance rise decision that the Chancellor took in her first Budget was necessary because of the woeful economic legacy left to this Government by their predecessor.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Agreement on the impact of national insurance rises

How: It Is Necessary

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