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
11 Conclusion Acknowledged
Third Report - The funding and del…
Northern Ireland public services face chronic underfunding and insufficient block grant uplift from Treasury.
Many of the structural, resource and funding issues facing Northern Ireland have been a long time in the making, but the lack of ministerial direction and accountability in recent times has not helped the plight of public services in Northern … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the severe funding situation for the PSNI and expresses an urge for a rethink by the Treasury, Northern Ireland Office, and the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the PSNI’s financial framework.
Northern Ireland Office
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12 Conclusion Acknowledged
Third Report - The funding and del…
Reduced UK public spending negatively impacts Northern Ireland's block grant and Barnett formula allocations.
Decisions by UK Governments to reduce overall UK public spending have a significant impact on the funding Northern Ireland receives through the block grant, which makes up the vast majority of its expenditure. With tighter budgets in England, annual allocations … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges Northern Ireland's unique financial challenges and higher relative need, referencing ongoing discussions towards a full fiscal framework and existing structural changes like the 24% needs-based factor in the Barnett formula.
Northern Ireland Office
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14 Recommendation Acknowledged
Third Report - The funding and del…
Consider lower income households' needs when Northern Ireland Executive examines revenue-raising options for public services.
We note that there have been calls that any consideration given by the Northern Ireland Executive to revenue raising should only take place once UK Government funding at levels equal to or above assessed need has been restored. The Northern … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to implementing corporation tax devolution via a Joint Exchequer Committee and notes ongoing discussions for the next phase of the fiscal framework. It states the NI Executive needs to make difficult decisions on revenue-raising to ensure financial sustainability, but does not explicitly state how lower income households will be considered.
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