Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
107,469 records match, page 2518 of 4299.
Have the Executive considered the mutualisation of Northern Ireland Water, or do they have other plans for providing the funding that is required to enable upgrades of failing waste water plants in the greater Belfast area?
Not analysed
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Revenue-raising Streams Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Revenue-raising Streams
The Executive’s focus must be on wider Budget sustainability. We must also look at how we can do things better by improving efficiency and focusing on desired outcomes. While income generation will be part of that, decisions must be based on the economic and social context and on the need to deliver the public…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Revenue-raising Streams Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Revenue-raising Streams
I cannot comment on individual cases, and I can assure the Member that, as I have said repeatedly during my answers to these questions, we are willing to work with ratepayers who face hardships and challenges. If the Member wishes to write to me about the individual case, I will raise the matter with LPS.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan
Following on from the Minister's comments that LPS will work with ratepayers, I have a case at the minute where the time frame given to the constituent to pay off their rates bill simply is not long enough for them to afford to pay it off. Will the Minister give a commitment that, where there are circumstances in…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan
There will be historical debt that has been pursued and that, for a number of reasons, may not be collectable. For instance, I referred to businesses that have gone bankrupt and gone beyond the statutory period for return, which is, I think, six years plus one. There may be other reasons why people cannot repay their…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan
I go back to the original question on rates debt. That is on top of £65 million of rates arrears that have been written off in the past year. Yesterday, Executive parties voted for an above-inflation increase in rates. Are we robbing Peter because Paul, for whatever reason, has not been able to pay?
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan
Wide-ranging support is available to ratepayers to assist them in fulfilling their payment of rates. Starting with domestic ratepayers, I will give some examples: there is housing benefit, rate rebate, low-income rate relief, disabled person's allowance and lone pensioner's allowance. For non-domestic rates, there is…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan
Will the Minister elaborate on what support is available to ratepayers?
Not analysed
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan
There is a variety of reasons why businesses and domestic ratepayers are not paying their bills in the timely manner that we would like, and we have to understand those reasons as we deal with each case individually. When, after working with the ratepayer, it comes to light that they are not working with us, court…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan
I thank the Minister for his answer. He is right that the cost and burden is not static and will move over time. When I tabled the question for written answer, £115·5 million of debt was outstanding, and nearly 44 properties were in arrears. The Minister has talked about the burden and about paying a fair share, but…
Not analysed
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan
The question for written answer to which the Member refers relates specifically to a prior rating year debt, as of 31 December 2024. A balance owing at a point in time serves only to reflect the position at that time. It is important that the Member recognise that the collection of rates is not static and that the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Ratepayers: Debt Reduction Payment Plan
It is worth noting that the Executive already have in place £275 million of rate relief for businesses. That figure is not often quoted or used, but it is important to be aware of it when we work out the equation about what we want to do next. My Department is offering significant rate relief to a range of businesses.…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update
The Minister is lobbying the Government for support, but what specific support can he give businesses come April?
Not analysed
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update
Of course it will inform my Department's thinking, and it will inform my thinking. I hope that it will also inform Members' thinking. It is vital that the decision-making process move forward on the basis of evidence and data, and the analysis that we are doing will allow us to do that. As I said in the Chamber…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update
Minister, it is welcome that the study will inform your negotiating position with the UK Government, but will it also inform your Department's position? Will we see any tangible actions from your Department to support businesses with the cost of doing business?
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update
Rates are the only local taxation available to the Executive and the Assembly. While I can understand the focus on rates, any changes will require legislation, which is possible. If we are to reduce the hospitality sector's rates base, however, we must ask whether we will reduce public services or add the burden…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update
Minister, I welcome the fact that your Department has belatedly confirmed that rates will be included in the cost of doing business study. What specific actions will you take to reform rates in order to better support hospitality and retail, which are struggling with increased costs and repeatedly cite the crippling…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update
Not directly, but there may be childcare businesses that are represented by the various organisations that I am meeting tomorrow, and their voices may be heard through that. It is worth pointing out, however, that, as a proposal in the draft Programme for Government, we have doubled the amount of money going into the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update
I welcome the study of the cost of doing business in Northern Ireland as we look into April and the incredible pressures. The childcare sector is a key aspect of the Northern Ireland economy. Is the childcare sector represented on the group that the Minister is meeting, and will he continue to engage with that sector,…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update
I am meeting the business sectors tomorrow for a round-table discussion. I look forward to listening to them about the challenges and opportunities facing their sector as we move forward. I am committed to working with them. I have already lobbied the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Secretary of State quite…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update
I thank the Minister for his response. Does the Minister plan to meet businesses directly? Who have the researchers consulted?
Not analysed
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update
The research on the cost of doing business being undertaken by the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre (UUEPC) is on track to be delivered by the end of the month. The study was commissioned following concerns raised in the aftermath of the Chancellor’s autumn Budget. Employers, understandably, have significant…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sectoral Study on the Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland: Update
Ring-fencing is an option for the Executive. I make recommendations to the Executive on the Budget, and ring-fencing allocations for specific cases in any Department will be an option for the Executive. If I were to make recommendations on that basis, I would do so in line with the Programme for Government commitments.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Educational Underachievement: Budget Provision Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Educational Underachievement: Budget Provision
Given the severity and scale of the numbers impacted by special educational needs and the number of commitments in the Programme for Government (PFG) for it, would it be beneficial to ring-fence some of the funding that goes to the Department for special educational needs so that there could be a guarantee of that…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Educational Underachievement: Budget Provision Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Educational Underachievement: Budget Provision
The only bids that we would receive are those made through monitoring rounds. The Department of Education has benefited from monitoring rounds whenever my Department has had funds available to match its needs, and it benefited from the recent transformation fund. I think that around £27 million was directed towards…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Educational Underachievement: Budget Provision Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Educational Underachievement: Budget Provision
Download all records matching these filters (up to 100,000 rows): CSV · JSON