All of Dr Caoimhe Archibald’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
1,307 records match, page 34 of 53.
I raised the issue with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in person, as well as in writing. Off the top of my head, I cannot recall the response, but I am happy to correspond with the Member.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Autumn Budget 2024: Farm Subsidies Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Autumn Budget 2024: Farm Subsidies
Are you referring to my engagement with the Treasury?
Not analysed
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Autumn Budget 2024: Farm Subsidies Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Autumn Budget 2024: Farm Subsidies
I met the AERA Minister in advance of the Budget announcement to discuss the importance of ensuring that adequate agriculture support funding is made available to farmers and land managers in the North. I also discussed the issue with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and wrote to him to request clarity on the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Autumn Budget 2024: Farm Subsidies Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Autumn Budget 2024: Farm Subsidies
I thank the Member for her question. In short, yes. I appreciate the uncertainty that the Chancellor's decision to remove the ring-fenced element of that important funding has created. It is also disappointing that the amount included in the Executive's baseline did not include an inflationary uplift. I am keen to see…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Budget 2025-26: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Budget 2025-26: Update
The British Chancellor announced the Executive's funding envelope for 2025-26 in the autumn Budget on 30 October. The settlement for future years will be announced in spring 2025. I am engaging with Executive colleagues on our approach to the 2025-26 Budget and have been working at pace to develop proposals. It is my…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Budget 2025-26: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Budget 2025-26: Update
I know that the Member will be aware that we have very limited banking powers and that the majority of such powers are reserved. That is one of the reasons that we hosted the round table: to get an understanding of the issues. I have received lots of correspondence and representations from Members about access to…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Banking Sector Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Banking Sector
I thank the Member for her question; I was not aware that a banking hub was opening in Newcastle this week. The issue of 24-hour access to cash was raised as part of the discussion and was put forward very strongly by some of the representatives in attendance, including those from the community and voluntary sector.…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Banking Sector Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Banking Sector
A range of issues will be raised in the summary report to which we will ask the Treasury to formally respond. That includes the need to ensure that local issues are reflected in its new national financial inclusion strategy, given our relatively higher levels of vulnerability here. As the new access-to-cash rules do…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Banking Sector Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Banking Sector
I thank the Member. I hosted a banking round table on 20 November with a wide range of representatives from the banking industry, the Financial Services Union, credit unions, the Post Office, business bodies and the community and voluntary sector. That provided an important platform to discuss key concerns and issues…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Banking Sector Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Banking Sector
Yes. I thank the Member for his important question. I have discussed with officials at the highest level the issue of HR and recruitment and support for our existing staff. It is really important that the Civil Service, as one of the biggest employers in the North, leads the way and sets an example on issues including…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Civil Service: Temporary Promotions Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Civil Service: Temporary Promotions
I thank the Member for his question. I will push back a little bit on his characterisation of how the posts are filled. Proper process is followed. The Civil Service continues to work to reduce the number of temporary promotions by filling vacancies, just as he said, where possible, on a permanent basis through…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Civil Service: Temporary Promotions Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Civil Service: Temporary Promotions
I thank the Member for his question. As I set out in my original answer, there is policy in place that temporary promotions are guided by, and an individual's suitability will be assessed under that policy in reference to the selection criteria for temporary promotion. In all circumstances, if an individual is…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Civil Service: Temporary Promotions Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Civil Service: Temporary Promotions
With the Speaker's permission, I will answer questions 5 and 10 together. The career opportunities and promotion policy sets out the arrangements for temporary promotions in the Civil Service, including the circumstances in which they may be considered, eligibility requirements and the selection processes. Temporary…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Civil Service: Temporary Promotions Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Civil Service: Temporary Promotions
I am not over the detail of why the contract was not taken forward between the EA and Fujitsu. As the Member will be aware, public procurement here is regulated through the UK's Public Contracts Regulations 2015. My Department conducted a robust and vigorous procurement process that resulted in Fujitsu being the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Land Registry: Digitisation Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Land Registry: Digitisation
The Department is currently finalising contract terms with Fujitsu for the provision of the new IT land registration solution, which will transform Land Registry's services. The new IT solution will implement a range of new services via digital channels, and customers will be able to submit applications online. Many…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Land Registry: Digitisation Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Land Registry: Digitisation
The Member might be aware of the NI Investment Fund, which uses FTC on behalf of the Executive to support private-sector investment. One of the themes under which developers can access that funding is decarbonisation, which is one in respect of which we would encourage more interest from private developers, because…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Financial Transactions Capital 2024-25 Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Financial Transactions Capital 2024-25
The Committee has received or will receive correspondence giving further detail about the National Wealth Fund and GB Energy. I had not specifically asked my officials to engage with Andy Burnham, but, as you will appreciate, they have regular engagement with Treasury to understand the outworkings of those funds and…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Financial Transactions Capital 2024-25 Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Financial Transactions Capital 2024-25
I will correct the point: we do not hand the money back; as I said in the previous answer, it is used to offset future liabilities. It is not, obviously, our preferred option for using the money, and we would much prefer it if Departments could identify projects. As I have said, I have actively encouraged bids in all…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Financial Transactions Capital 2024-25 Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Financial Transactions Capital 2024-25
Financial transactions capital can be used only to provide loans to or equity investment in the private sector. The funding is ring-fenced for that purpose and cannot be used for anything else. It is therefore more challenging for Departments to identify suitable projects that advance the Executive’s policy…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Financial Transactions Capital 2024-25 Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Financial Transactions Capital 2024-25
I did not catch the first part of the Member's question, but I think that I got the gist of it. As I outlined to Mr Durkan, rating relief is provided to businesses on the basis of a statutory framework. Some of those issues are included in our social value procurement framework for other government services.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rating Policy: Hospitality Businesses Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rating Policy: Hospitality Businesses
I know that the Member has raised that issue with me previously. I am sympathetic to businesses that are being impacted by works that are beyond their control. The Member is aware that rate relief is available through the hardship scheme for businesses that suffer from impacts that are beyond their control. The award…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rating Policy: Hospitality Businesses Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rating Policy: Hospitality Businesses
I first circulated my proposals for consideration by the Executive on 10 October. The proposals included details on a potential consultation on certain rating policy measures. I subsequently asked that my paper be considered at four meetings of the Executive: on 17 October, 7 November, 11 November and 21 November. I…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rating Policy: Hospitality Businesses Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rating Policy: Hospitality Businesses
As I have said on a number of occasions, I have brought forward proposals to the Executive on my approach to taking a more strategic look at the rating system in the short, medium and longer term. I hope to communicate to Members on that in more detail in the near future.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rating Policy: Hospitality Businesses Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rating Policy: Hospitality Businesses
I have had significant engagement with businesses, as the Member will appreciate. I understand that they face a range of issues, a lot of which are outwith our control and are because of decisions that have been made by the British Government as recently as the Budget statement. Like, I am sure, other Members, I have…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rating Policy: Hospitality Businesses Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rating Policy: Hospitality Businesses
Sixty-five per cent of the hospitality sector as a whole is already in receipt of support via the small business rate relief scheme. While calls for ever-increasing rate support are prominent, the Member will appreciate that similarly vocal views on how that additional support should be funded are harder to solicit.…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rating Policy: Hospitality Businesses Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rating Policy: Hospitality Businesses
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