Northern Ireland budget will require difficult decisions, says UK minister

A budget set for Northern Ireland’s public services “will require difficult decisions”, a minister has said.

Lord Caine acknowledged “this is not easy” as the UK Parliament approved the annual financial package for the region due to the continued political stalemate in Stormont.

The Tory frontbencher also stressed the total sum being made available of £14.2 billion for revenue spending and £2.2 billion for capital would have been the same if the executive was up and running.

There have been no functioning devolved institutions since last year when the DUP withdrew in protest over the post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland.

The UK Government and EU unveiled the Windsor Framework earlier this year as a means of resolving difficulties caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol, but the DUP has said its concerns must be met before it returns to government.

Speaking as the Northern Ireland Budget (No.2) Bill went through the House of Lords, Northern Ireland Office minister Lord Caine said: “Of course, it is the Government’s clear wish that these matters were being dealt with by a fully functioning Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly… and we are working tirelessly to bring that about.

“However, in the absence of an executive, it is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland departments now to make the specific spending decisions to ensure that they live within the budget limits as set out in this Bill.

“I recognise that this is not easy and will require difficult decisions.”

He reminded the House that the Government had inherited a significant prospective overspend in 2022-23 of £660 million.

Lord Caine told peers: “I emphasise that the sum available for this budget would have been the same provided to an executive for 2023-24 if an executive were in place.”

The Bill, which has already been approved by the Commons, cleared the Lords and now goes for royal assent.