Ulster Unionist Finance Spokesperson, Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA, has said that Northern Ireland will not see the benefit of several aspects of the Chancellor’s Budget such as a reduction in business rates or the likely increase in pay for health workers.

Steve Aiken said:

“I would congratulate the Chancellor of the Exchequer for being able to produce the Budget, something which Northern Ireland’s last Finance Minister Mairtin O Muilleoir hadn’t the fiscal knowledge or ability to do.

“Whilst the cap on public sector pay appears to be weakening, and not before time, it remains outrageous that in the absence of local Ministers even the most modest 1% recommendations of local Pay Review Bodies cannot be signed off and implemented here. Not for the first time, Northern Ireland’s public sector workers are getting the worst end of the deal.

“The review of the APD and the impact of VAT on tourism is progress, however there should have been real movement on the issue in this year’s Budget rather than having to wait until the next. There have already been a plethora of reports and studies produced, so this further delay remains inexplicable and will simply represent another year of lost opportunity. 

“The announcement of £650m additional spending for Northern Ireland is of course welcome, especially as the Chancellor's previous Spring Budget set out a major real-terms reduction in 2018/19. Further clarity is urgently needed on it in order for the real impact to be properly assessed. 

“I would commend the Chancellor for recognising the need to reduce the burden of business rates, however given the issue is devolved in Northern Ireland - and the last Executive failed to address the issue – local businesses will not benefit from it at all.                                                                                                          

“With no local Executive in place public services across Northern Ireland continue to edge towards further crisis. Vital strategic decisions are not being taken regarding our health service, our education system and our economy. The opportunity of a 12.5% rate of Corporation Tax by April 2018 should have been a game-changer, but it now appears dead in the water.”