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.
We are about to embark on the Budget-setting process for 2024-25. As part of that, I will meet each Minister with responsibility. I will engage with the Justice Minister on her needs and those of her Department and the bodies in it. I am sure that she will make the case for what she requires to deliver services.
As I stated, there is a plan to reduce our footprint by 40%. That very much reflects not only the changing needs of the Civil Service but people's changing work patterns. The Member will be aware that a number of Connect2 hubs were established by the previous Finance Minister. There has been poor uptake of those. I…
The Department is responsible for the management and strategic planning of the NICS office estate, which includes ensuring that the estate meets the changing needs of the Civil Service. In 2023, the Department of Finance commenced a programme of work to reduce the in-scope office estate footprint by about 40% over the…
I thank the Member for that question. As I have stated, I am awaiting clarity from the Treasury about what exactly has been repackaged. We understand from officials that there are a number of funding streams. Fresh Start is one, and there are things that the British Government is responsible for, like the Levelling Up…
I have already reflected in my responses that I am still waiting for clarity from Treasury about what money of that £708 million that is loosely earmarked for transformation has been repackaged. As I said, I share the concerns that the Education Minister outlined about those projects. The Executive did not sign up to…
I very much recognise the challenges that have faced all businesses, particularly small businesses. As I have said previously, I will consider the responses to the consultation on revenue raising and assess the findings of that exercise. I will look at a number of strategic areas of policy in the weighting system in…
My Department has extended the small business rate relief scheme in legislation for the forthcoming financial year. That will automatically provide in the region of £20-million worth of assistance to 29,000 small businesses that benefit from a reduction of between 20% and 50% in their rates.
I have not made any ministerial direction to the permanent secretary. If the Member would like to write to me to ask for more detail, I will be happy to provide him with any information that he wishes.
The consultation process on measures to support Budget sustainability and raise additional revenue that my Department was directed to undertake by the Secretary of State cost £2,906·80. That included costs for newspaper advertising and a stakeholder engagement event on 9 November.
I am clear that our rating system should be fair, equitable and progressive, but it should be very much aligned to our economic vision. It should be about creating jobs and supporting businesses. It is important to note that what we are trying to achieve with our rating system is growing the tax base so that more…
As I mentioned, we had over 1,400 consultation responses from various sectors. Obviously, the manufacturing sector will be represented in those. I am aware of the concerns that have been raised. I am also aware of the importance of that rates relief to the manufacturing sector, which is successful here. We have a…
The consultation opened on 7 November and concluded on 13 February. A total of 1,400 responses were received on domestic and non-domestic rating measures. My officials are analysing the responses with a view to providing me with the initial findings report in March.
The rates revenue-raising consultation was limited in the questions that were asked. However, I understand from officials that a considerable number of responses were received, some of which were lengthy and provided a lot of detailed information in relation to particular sectors. There is a range of rates relief…
The Department of Finance's rates revenue-raising consultation opened on 7 November and concluded on 13 February. As I have just said to Mr Aiken, 1,400 responses were received. My officials are analysing those with a view to providing me with an initial findings report in March. I am keen to understand what those who…
The consultations are at various stages. They were launched on different dates between October and early January this year, so the consultation periods also varied. There is a range of closing dates. Those that have closed relate to the overarching financial context, rates relief and hospital car parking charges. As…
On 20 September, the Secretary of State wrote to permanent secretaries, directing them to launch public consultations on measures to support budget sustainability by raising additional revenue. Those consultations were at various stages when the Executive returned, and it will now be for individual Ministers to…
I received a letter from the Minister of Health asking for assistance in supporting hospices in any way possible. No specific bid for additional funding for hospices was made to the Department. Obviously, the Executive have now agreed the final allocations for the 2023-24 Budget. However, I have written to the Health…
I have recently begun the process of setting the Budget for the Executive for the incoming financial year. As part of that, Departments have been invited to make bids for the available funding on the basis of their priorities and needs. It will then be for the Executive to decide how the funding is shared out among…
I very much appreciate the important role that hospices play in delivering specialist care to people with palliative and end-of-life care needs. I welcome the Health Minister's reinstatement of the £85,000 in funding to the Children's Hospice for this year, which had been withdrawn. I know that the Member has been…
The Member will be aware that £210 million has been allocated from government: £100 million of city deal funding and £110 million from the inclusive future fund, which will be equally funded by the Executive and the British Government. Derry City and Strabane District Council and project delivery partners are expected…
I understand that work is under way by the Economy and Health Departments, in conjunction with Ulster University, to develop the business case for phase 2, which will see the expansion of the medical school. I know that the Member is supportive of that and has been working on it. I am sure that he will also engage…
As the Member will know, city and growth deals are long-term capital investment programmes. The process requires detailed business case development and approval for each constituent project to ensure the proper use of funds. My officials and those in other Departments have been regularly engaging with deal partners,…
The Derry City and Strabane District Council city deal is nearing the end of its business case process and should be signed in the spring or summer of this year. The deal's signing will, obviously, mark the stage at which the funding can be released.
The Fiscal Commission made recommendations on potential powers to devolve. Officials are analysing the subsequent consultation. I will look at the full range of powers, consider the recommendations that come back through the consultation and present them to the Executive for their consideration.
I think that I have already addressed that in response to Mr Tennyson. We are very much up for the conversation about the reform of the institutions. As Michelle O'Neill has made clear when responding to such questions, we are in the Executive to deliver for people. That is our intention for the rest of the mandate.