AQW 7717/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 28/02/2024
Answered On Date: 06/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance (i) what consideration has been given to setting out a three year budget from 2024; and (ii) to detail any issues preventing this.

Answer:

It is not possible to set a three year budget because 2024-25 is the last year of the current Spending Review period. The Executive does not have a budget allocation beyond this period.

In these circumstances, setting a multi-year budget would not comply with Section 64 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 which states that:

1A - At least 14 days before laying a draft budget for a financial year, the Minister of Finance and Personnel must lay before the Assembly a statement specifying the amount of UK funding for that year notified to the Minister by the Secretary of State.

1B - At the same time as laying a draft budget for a financial year, the Minister of Finance and Personnel must lay before the Assembly a statement showing that the amount of UK funding required by the draft budget does not exceed the amount specified under subsection (1A) for that year.