The funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 14 Feb 2023 Closed: 28 May 2024 Parliament page
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is launching an inquiry into the funding of public services in Northern Ireland. The inquiry will look at the financial situation facing Northern Ireland’s public services, including health, education and the police, and how the lack of a functioning Executive has impacted on budgetary management. … Read more
12 Recommendations
3 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
8 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 20 events
14 Nov
2024
Report published
26 Mar
2024
Report published
15 Nov
2023
Correspondence
15 Nov
2023
Correspondence
8 Nov
2023
Oral evidence
8 Nov
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
6 Sep
2023
Correspondence
6 Sep
2023
Correspondence
4 Jul
2023
Oral evidence
4 Jul
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
21 Jun
2023
Oral evidence
21 Jun
2023
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
8 Nov 2023
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Emma Morgan · SEN Reform NI Paul Johnson CBE · Independent Fiscal Commission for Northern Ireland Paul Kavanagh · SEN Reform NI Professor Gerald Holtham · Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales
4 Jul 2023
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Celine McStravick · Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) David Babington · Action Mental Health Dr Lisa Wilson · Nevin Economic Research Institute Michele Janes · Barnardo's Northern Ireland Sir Robert Chote · Northern Ireland Fiscal Council
21 Jun 2023
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Dorinnia Carville · Northern Ireland Audit Office Geraldine Hanna, Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate for Northern Ireland Margaret Kelly, NI Public Services Ombudsman Mark McNaughten · The Police Service of Northern Ireland Pamela McCreedy · Police Service of Northern Ireland Rodney Allen · Northern Ireland Audit Office Sean Martin, NI Public Services Deputy Ombudsman
24 May 2023
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Dolores McCormick · Royal College of Nursing Dr Tom Black · British Medical Association (BMA) Liam McGuckin · National Association of Headteachers (Northern Ireland) Mark Baker · Controlled Schools’ Support Council Professor Mark Taylor · Royal College of Surgeons Sara Long · Education Authority
3 May 2023
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Jayne Brady · Northern Ireland Civil Service Joanne McBurney · NI Department of Finance Neil Gibson · NI Department of Finance
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - The funding and delivery of public services in No… HC 46 26 Mar 2024 15 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
Clear
5 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report - The funding and del…
Publish future UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation scope for NI public bodies.
The delivery and timing of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) caused considerable distress and uncertainty in the sector, particularly the decision to communicate the outcome of applications on the day European Social Funding ceased. The Government has announced that … Read more
Government Response
The government has announced that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will be extended for 2025-26 at a reduced level of £900 million. Regional, nation-level, and local allocations will be confirmed and published on gov.uk as soon as possible.
Northern Ireland Office
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7 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report - The funding and del…
Mandate Northern Ireland Executive to commit to multi-year budgetary settlements for public services.
Single-year budgets and a lack of an agreed Programme for Government have not allowed for long-term thinking and planning for public services and spending in Northern Ireland over recent years. We urge the Executive to commit to returning to multi-year … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to multi-year spending reviews every two years, starting Spring 2025, and expects the Northern Ireland Executive to return to multi-year budgets following this. It also clarifies that the NIE can already carry forward underspends via the Budget Exchange system, and reiterates commitment to ongoing Fiscal Framework discussions.
Northern Ireland Office
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8 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report - The funding and del…
Clarify Government's evaluation and monitoring of NI fiscal sustainability plan implementation.
We are pleased to see reference to the publication and implementation of a fiscal sustainability plan as part of the settlement between the Government and Executive, which will include detail on long-term budget planning. It is noted that there is … Read more
Government Response
The government clarifies that the £559 million debt will be written off if the Executive balances its 2024-25 budget and raises £113m revenue from 2025/26, with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury confirming this if conditions are met, thus outlining the monitoring of the conditionality.
Northern Ireland Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 15 of 12 classified
Accepted 3
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 6
Not Addressed 2
Total 12 recs + 3 conclusions
Correspondence 8 letters
15 Nov 2023 Correspondence to Permanent Secretary, Northern Ireland Department of Health, relating to suspension of emergency surgery in county Fermanagh, 3 November 2023
Parliament page
15 Nov 2023 Correspondence from Permanent Secretary, Northern Ireland Department of Health, relating to suspension of emergency surgery in county Fermanagh, 13 November 2023
Parliament page
6 Sep 2023 Correspondence to the Secretary of State, relating to the transformation priorities for the Northern Ireland health service, 20 July 2023
Parliament page
6 Sep 2023 Correspondence from the Secretary of State, relating to the transformation priorities for the Northern Ireland health service, 4 September 2023
Parliament page
21 Jun 2023 Correspondence from Medical General Council, relating to the funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland, 16 June 2023
Parliament page
7 Jun 2023 Correspondence from the Head of the Civil Service, Northern Ireland, relating to the funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland inquiry, 31 May 2023
Parliament page
7 Jun 2023 Correspondence from the Comptroller and Auditor General, Northern Ireland Audit Office, relating to allocation of budget to the Northern Ireland Audit Office 2023-24, 26 May 2023
Parliament page
24 May 2023 Correspondence from the Controlled Schools’ Support Council, relating to the funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland inquiry, 11 May 2023
Parliament page