Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Northern Ireland Finances 2022/2023

24 November 2022 · Northern Ireland Office

Proposed by Chris Heaton-Harris Con Daventry

Northern Ireland

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

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At a glance

Key points

  • The minister sets a budget for Northern Ireland's financial year 2022/23
  • Provides funding details and announces plans to bring forward legislation
  • Focus is on protecting public services while addressing the 660m overspend

Issue summary

The statement addresses the financial situation in Northern Ireland for the 2022/2023 fiscal year due to a lack of an Executive Budget.

Action requested

The minister sets a budget for Northern Ireland's financial year 2022/23, providing funding details and announcing plans to bring forward legislation. The focus is on protecting public services while addressing the £660m overspend left by the former Executive.

Key facts

  • The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Bill allows six weeks for an Executive to form.
  • Northern Ireland's public finances have a black hole of £660m due to the lack of an Executive Budget from May to October 2022.
  • The Spending Review 2021 set the largest annual Block Grant since 1998, providing around 21% more funding per head than equivalent UK Government spending in other parts of the UK.
  • Health receives £7.28bn with an increase of £228m above 2021/22 spending excluding one-off COVID-19 funding.
  • Education receives £2.6bn, an additional £286m on top of last year's spending (excluding one-off COVID support).
  • The Department for Infrastructure sees a 4.4% increase in resource spending after excluding one-off COVID support.
  • Capital funding continues investment with projects like York Street Interchange and A5 and A6 road schemes.
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