The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP has on 20 September written to the Permanent Secretaries of the Northern Ireland departments, directing them to launch public consultations on measures to support budget sustainability and raise additional revenue, under his powers in the NI Interim Arrangements Act.
Public consultations will include similar measures to those that already exist in other parts of the UK, such as introducing domestic water and waste water charges, drug prescription charges, and increasing university tuition fees. Separately to this exercise, the Secretary of State will also review the level of the domestic and non-domestic regional rate, given the importance of a balanced budget.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris said:“In order to improve the sustainability of public finances, generating revenue is not merely an option but a critical necessity.
“Of course, it is my clear wish that these matters were being dealt with by a fully functioning Executive and Assembly. And we are working tirelessly to bring that about.
“In the absence of an Executive, public consultations will be run by Northern Ireland departments on measures for supporting budget sustainability and raising additional revenue.
“Conducting these consultations will enable Northern Ireland departments to identify ways to improve the sustainability of public services and public finances, paving the way for long awaited improvement and transformation of these services that we all rely on and want to protect.
“I am keen that the public and all interested parties have an opportunity to consider the range of options being examined and to feed in their views.
“It is my expectation that a returning Executive will consider responses to these consultations and use this to make the necessary decisions to put Northern Ireland’s public finances on a sustainable footing. It is important that we do not lose momentum on this work.”
The Secretary of State will continue to engage with the Northern Ireland departments. Final decisions to implement any measures should be taken by the elected leaders of a restored Executive. Urgent action needs to be taken to get Northern Ireland’s finances under control and to deliver much-needed and long-promised public service reform.
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