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.
Thank you, Minister. We appreciate the work that has gone into trying to get the deals back on track. The Mid South West deal was due to be signed with heads of agreement on Wednesday. That shows how far we were along the line with that. Will you accompany the councils to London next weekend to lobby parliamentarians…
The strong collective message that we have been able to send, as an Executive and as parties across the board, on the need to unpause the funding commitment to the growth deals has been a real strength. The deal partners have been engaging directly with the NIO — I think that they met the British Secretary of State…
I thank the Minister and the Executive for what they have been doing on the Mid South West growth deal and, indeed, the Causeway Coast and Glens growth deal. They are an economic game changer and catalyst. I appreciate that the Minister will have some vested interest in the issue for her area. What is her assessment…
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 7 and 12 together. I am continuing to push for the reversal of the British Government's pause on growth deal funding. My officials are working closely with the two growth deal teams to provide the necessary evidence for Treasury to consider as part of the…
Obviously, I do not agree with the Member's interpretation of the Budget sustainability plan. Appendix D is a list of proposals from Departments. The Executive will take a decision, and Ministers will take decisions in each of their Departments on which of those they will take forward.
Minister, with the greatest respect, the Budget sustainability plan is waffle. Most of the text simply summarises actions that were obvious anyway, such as seeking multi-year Budgets. Honestly, I say that with the greatest respect. At appendix D, however, there are some interesting tables on the options for…
I agree with the Member that addressing overcommitments and living within the budget should be the top priority for any Minister. All Ministers are autonomous within their Departments and have to take decisions to live responsibly, but the consequences of any Department overspending this year would be dire for the…
Minister, do you agree that any Department that is reporting an overcommitment should not be committing to additional discretionary spend? What steps can you take to ensure that that situation does not arise again?
I have certainly made no secret of how difficult the financial situation is, particularly for this year. It will still be a challenge for Departments to live within budget. As we have already outlined in contributions to the Assembly, we anticipate a significant amount of Barnett consequentials for the rest of this…
The Budget sustainability plan is based on the plan to have a balanced Budget for 2024-25. Given the Minister's recent announcement of £769 million of overcommitment for the year, and the fact that we are still waiting to hear the outcome of the monitoring round, is she confident that the 2024-25 Budget can be…
The Budget sustainability plan is not, and was never intended to be, a panacea for addressing all the fiscal issues that the Executive face. Rather, it is the first step in a financial sustainability journey, providing a strategic framework that will allow Departments to consider how they can deliver long-term,…
The Budget sustainability plan is a first step on the Executive's journey towards fulfilling our longer-term ambition of integrating sustainability discussions into the heart of our processes and decision-making. As part of the plan, the Executive have agreed to a work plan that includes the development and…
The Budget sustainability plan reflects the amounts that will have to be raised through the regional rate to meet our obligation to raise the £113 million that needs to be raised over two years. The decision that the Executive took last year to keep the increase in the regional rate in line with inflation was taken to…
The Budget sustainability plan explores raising rates this year from 2·5% to 4%. Ratepayers have seen increases in the regional rate and the district rate. As you indicated in your response to a previous question, rates are increasing and services are decreasing. Given that previous answer, will you commit to not…
There are a number of factors at play that have had an impact on our village, town and city centres over recent years, not least the proliferation of online shopping. It is just so handy for many people to choose that option. The Executive need to take a collective approach to supporting our towns and our high…
I thank the Minister for her answer. Despite the hard-working businesses in our town centres, there is a proliferation of vacant premises in my constituency of East Antrim. Does the Minister agree that high street businesses are getting an unfair deal from the current rating system? What can be done to make…
I have spoken on that issue a number of times in the Assembly, because I recognise the role that industrial derating has played in supporting 4,400-plus manufacturers and its contribution to our having a strong manufacturing sector here. The measure supports indigenous businesses, with over 50% of the recipients being…
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 5 and 11 together. Over 1,400 responses were received from ratepayers, businesses and a range of other stakeholders. It is for that reason that I wanted to ensure that, with my officials, I took the time to examine carefully all the views from those who…
I have directed GRO officials who are drafting the deaths and stillbirths registrations legislation to include the ability to register deaths and stillbirths online and by phone. We will include in that legislation provision for a baby loss certificate scheme. We may have to go to public consultation. That might be…
Minister, last week was Baby Loss Awareness Week, a painful reminder that parents who lose their babies during pregnancy will feel every year. Can you guarantee that, by the time of Baby Loss Awareness Week next year, the baby loss certificate scheme and any accompanying legislation will have been introduced?
It is important to me that the baby loss certificate scheme meets the needs of families, charities and third-sector organisations. I am sure that, like me, the Member has had a lot of correspondence in relation to the issue. It has touched many people already that we are keen to develop and progress a baby loss…
I thank the Minister for her answer. Acknowledging baby loss in legislation is crucial, so I am grateful for that. Minister, will the scheme go out to public consultation?