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That is no problem, thank you. I appreciate that the Minister is not long in office. I recently met officials from his Department to feed back some information from my constituency of Lagan Valley, where constituents have no voice on the matter and some of whom cannot sell houses. If the Minister can give his…
Yes, I am more than happy to do that. Any measures that we can take to support parents with childcare needs and the childcare sector are important not only for the families but for the broader economy.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. Will you, please, make representations to the UK Government on getting an increase in tax-free childcare allowance?
It has to be said that, since coming back in February last year, the Executive have made significant strides in childcare. Working together, we have seen significant investment in childcare. For instance, the 2025-26 draft Budget increases the allocations for short-term supportive measures to £50 million. That is the…
I am aware of the report and the comments in it. The usual way of responding to such reports is that the PAC forwards the report to the sponsor Department and my Department for a formal response. That is how the report will be dealt with: through the formal processes. I am not in any way underestimating or…
I do not think that anybody is placing the blame solely on the Civil Service. However, it has been acknowledged that the cost is £2·45 billion. That is not small change. It was recognised in the report that your Department has established a commercial delivery group. Are you aware of that? What has been done?
I have heard some of the public discourse on the issue. It is wrong and a huge mistake to blame the Civil Service for it. We are all responsible for the delivery of capital projects. It is worth noting — I say this advisedly — that, although the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) does excellent work, every report that it…
The Member has proven himself wiser than I thought he was about commissions and councils. I thank him very much for that. I am here not to respond about any matters in the Sinn Féin manifesto but as a member of a power-sharing Executive who have to work collaboratively to deliver the public services that people want…
Thank you, Minister. In fact, you mentioned the Fiscal Commission earlier, but the Fiscal Commission does not exist any more. It reported three years ago. So far, there has been virtually no progress made on delivering on any of its findings. You mentioned the rating review cycle earlier. Your predecessor said that…
The Member will be aware that all parties stand on their manifesto. If appointed to the Executive, Members have to work in a power-sharing Executive with Executive colleagues and agree a work programme. That is what we have done since we came back. On that specific issue, in reply to an earlier question, I said that…
The work programme has been set out in such a way as to be able to respond to the issues. If, however, a decision is made in Whitehall that does not particularly fit into our programme of work, it is sometimes difficult for us to reprioritise our work streams. The Department is also working with limited resources. We…
I thank the Minister. In light of the current economic climate for small to medium-sized businesses in the hospitality and retail sectors, why is he consulting on small business rate relief in year 2 of the strategic review rather than in year 1, given its urgency for some of our town centres?
I will provide an update on the proposed changes to domestic rating policy. On 29 January, my Department launched a 12-week consultation on two domestic rating measures. The consultation builds on work undertaken by my Department last year, and I encourage people to respond. The first proposal is to elevate the…
Towns such as Warrenpoint and Rostrevor in my constituency will be impacted on by this as consumers choose where to eat, drink and stay. Further, given that your colleagues voted for a motion in the House last week, will you continue to do everything that you can to impress upon British Ministers the need for change…
I am always willing to meet key stakeholders to discuss these matters and listen to their ideas and proposals. I have already met representatives of a number of sectors and will continue to do so. I am offering a round table to the broader business community, and I have no doubt that this subject will arise there.…
I thank the Minister for his answers. Minister, I am confident of the offering of the Northern Ireland hospitality sector and what it provides, but it needs your support and that of the Executive. Will you commit to meeting representative bodies, such as Hospitality Ulster, to listen to their ideas about how they can…
As I said, significant support is given to small and medium-size businesses through the rate relief scheme that we operate, which I think gives welcome support to local businesses. The Member will be aware that neither I, the Executive nor the House has any powers to reduce or, for that matter, increase VAT.…
I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, what plans do you have specifically to support businesses in Northern Ireland, especially in the hospitality industry?
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 6 and 15 together. My Department has repeatedly highlighted to the Treasury the challenges facing our hospitality industry, particularly the high VAT rates faced by business here relative to the South. Unfortunately, the British Government, who are responsible…
The figure is around £200 million in increased costs for the public sector, councils and the community and voluntary sector. The missing part of the equation is that I do not know how much the Treasury is going to give the Executive as a result of the Barnett consequentials that it plans to make available in…
Following on from the previous question, when the Government made the announcement back in October, charities and businesses in my constituency were able to tell me that it would cost them £11,400 or £42,150. Within days, people knew exactly how much it was going to cost them. We are still looking at responses in the…
Your level of wisdom or lack of it does not fall within my remit. I can assure the Member that my predecessor and I have pressed this issue home. First, we need to understand exactly how the British Government are going to respond to their commitment to support the public sector with Barnett consequentials as a result…
Minister, you have a well-earned reputation for plain speaking, but I am afraid that you are not living up to that reputation today. I am still absolutely none the wiser as to how much this is going to cost the Executive. You must know; if you do not, then you are not doing your job. I welcome you to your new job; I…