Stormont Budget Responsibility Emphasized by Hilary Benn
Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland secretary of state, has emphasized that Stormont ministers "should do their job" by agreeing on a budget, expressing his reluctance to intervene directly in setting the Stormont budget himself.
Speaking at a Westminster committee, Benn highlighted that it is the "responsibility" of the Northern Ireland Executive and ministers within the power-sharing administration to manage and agree on the budget.
This statement comes amid growing concerns over Stormont's financial situation, as the region remains without an agreed budget three months into the financial year.
Earlier this month, talks between the UK government and executive parties took place at Hillsborough Castle, aiming to find a resolution to the ongoing budget impasse.
Benn acknowledged the difficulties caused by the absence of a budget, stating that "clearly there being no budget is a problem" and urged the executive to "meet the government halfway" in resolving the issue.
According to an external spending watchdog, Stormont departments are currently facing spending pressures estimated at up to £1.6 billion.
In the absence of an agreed budget, public services in Northern Ireland have been operating under contingency arrangements since the start of the financial year in April.
During his appearance at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Benn explained that the government is working to "understand what these pressures are" by analyzing disclosures from various government departments.
Looking ahead to the incoming prime minister Andy Burnham's tenure, Benn noted that it is their responsibility to "offer advice to the new prime minister about the current situation" in Northern Ireland.
"Because when he speaks to the first and deputy first minister, I suspect that this will be the first item on the agenda."
When repeatedly questioned about the possibility of the UK government stepping in to set a budget if the executive fails to reach an agreement, Benn responded:
"I really hope that that is not going to have to prove the case, because I repeat, it is the responsibility of the executive to set a budget."
He further added:
"I do not want to sit here before you today and say, 'Well I'm going to take that responsibility away from you.' It is the responsibility of the executive and they should do their job."
Fiscal Council Highlights Treasury's Difficult Position
In a related discussion, Sir Robert Chote, head of the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council, addressed the challenges faced by the Treasury in providing additional funding to Stormont in previous years.
He told MPs that the Treasury "finds itself in a difficult position" due to past interventions.
"Refusing additional money this time obviously would have serious consequences for public finances in Northern Ireland."
However, he also cautioned that:
"Providing those resources without conditionality attached to it arguably creates an environment where people assume this is going to happen again."
