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.
I thank the Member for her question. We showed how childcare was a priority for the Executive, because, despite the really challenging budgetary situation that we found ourselves in, we still ring-fenced money specifically for childcare. Childcare is one of the priorities in the draft Programme for Government, and, as…
We know that we will receive additional resource Barnett consequentials in-year, but the total of those will not be confirmed until we get our Westminster Supplementary Estimates, which is usually in January. Given the pressures that we face, I asked my officials to engage in discussions with Treasury on the likely…
The Member will be aware of the significant financial pressures facing the Executive's Budget that I outlined to the Chamber last week. Departments project pressures of £767 million for this year. As I mentioned in my previous answer, Barnett consequentials that come across for any issue are unhypothecated and have to…
The Executive received £57·2 million of Barnett consequentials for 2024-25, following the announcement in the spring Budget of the expansion of the 30 free hours of childcare scheme in England. Barnett consequentials are, of course, unhypothecated, meaning that they do not have to be used for the purposes for which…
I will give the Member a figure off the top of my head that I will be happy to clarify because it will be in the consultation. I think that industrial derating costs £70 million. As I said, I will not pre-empt any proposals that will go to the Executive for discussion. Obviously, anything that we consider doing in…
As part of my consideration of the responses to the consultation, I had the opportunity to meet business organisations and businesses. Obviously, I will not pre-empt any proposals that will go to the Executive for discussion or decision, but I very much recognise the role that industrial derating has played in…
As the Member will be aware, that requirement was part of the financial package. We did not agree to it, but, nonetheless, that was Treasury's position, and I was able to negotiate some flexibility so that it could be raised over 24 months rather than 12. I am happy to give Members the update that it is projected that…
I met officials at the end of last month to advance policy proposals. I intend to bring forward proposals on what we can do in the immediate term and then in the medium and longer term early next month to the Executive. Obviously, decisions on the issues will be for the Executive as a whole to consider and decide on.
My Department published a summary of the consultation responses on the non-domestic and domestic rating measures last week on the Department's website. Over 1,400 responses were received from ratepayers, businesses and a range of other stakeholders. My Department also undertook a series of public meetings as part of…
Yes. It is an issue that I am keen to progress. We debated the matter in the Chamber a number of months ago, and I have asked my officials to scope out what will be required and bring forward policy proposals.
The Member will be aware from his role as Finance Committee Chair that a number of civil law issues sit with my Department. That has been the case since the Department was put in place. I do not necessarily agree with the Member about the need to move it to the Department of Justice.
Policy development is complete. My officials briefed the Finance Committee on the marriage and civil partnership Bill on 17 April, and Committee members were supportive of the changes. I circulated a paper to Executive colleagues on 21 May and asked for it to be tabled at the Executive meeting on 13 June. A final…
I have previously indicated to Members my intention to introduce a Bill to amend the current law on marriage and civil partnership to bring belief marriage within the statutory framework and to bring forward the important increase in the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership to 18. My officials have finalised…
I have been consistent in highlighting the underinvestment in our public services and the fact that, with the new Government in place, after 14 years of austerity and chaos under the previous Tory Government, we need a change of approach. We need the prioritisation of investment in public services and in ordinary…
I agree with the Member's assessment of the Shared Prosperity Fund: it was not designed with the North in mind and certainly did not take on board the criticism or feedback that was provided on its structure, one of the most important aspects of which was that there was no section 75 consideration in the delivery of…
The Member will be aware from his role in the Finance Committee that we do regular engagement through the Fiscal Council with the Scottish and Welsh Finance Ministers. Just last week, I had a conversation with the Scottish Finance Minister around the financial challenges facing us collectively at the minute. We have…
Collaboration is absolutely key to ensuring that any funding we get and the delivery of programmes with that funding aligns with our local priorities, learns the lessons of previous funding programmes, does not duplicate anything that we are already doing or any existing provision and ensures best value for money. In…
From memory, the European regional development fund (ERDF) and the European social fund (ESF) jointly provided the Executive with about £65 million per year. In comparison with that, the Shared Prosperity Fund provides an annual average of about £35 million. That leaves a real funding gap of about £30 million…
The future of the Shared Prosperity Fund beyond March 2025 is of immediate concern and is something that I have been pressing the British Government for progress on. I wrote to Angela Rayner MP as soon as she was appointed Secretary of State, highlighting the lack of information on a successor programme and the impact…
I thank the Member for his question and for his support in this matter. As I set out, I laid out our shock at the news that we had received just the day before; the considerable time, effort and commitment that had been put in by deal partners right across the North; and the consequences that such a decision would…
Thank you for the opportunity to provide the Chamber with an update on the deplorable decision by the British Government to pause their funding commitments to the city and growth deals until the spending review. Members will have heard by now that, on Saturday evening, the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, confirmed…
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion as it shines a light on an incredibly important matter. Small and microbusinesses, as many Members have reflected, are the heart of our local economy. It is, therefore, incumbent on all of us to do what we can to support…
Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I welcome the opportunity to provide an update to the Assembly on our budgetary outlook. It is no secret that the Executive are facing significant budgetary challenges. Since taking up office, I have been consistently clear about the scale of those challenges and…
Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Members who tabled the motion and the amendment. The impact and benefit of the European social fund and the European regional development fund in the North was clear. The European social fund provided funding for vital services through the community and…