The Ulster Unionist Party’s East Belfast MLA, Andy Allen, has urged the Secretary of State to act now to take the decisions which are building up in every Government department in the absence of local Executive ministers.

Andy Allen said:

“The sheer scale of the number of decisions awaiting Ministerial approval across Executive departments means that the Secretary of State has no choice but to step in.

I recently submitted a Freedom of Information request asking the Department of Communities to provide me with a detailed list of every piece of legislation and or decision that cannot be taken without Ministerial sign off, an executive or assembly, now, in the coming days, weeks and months

“I have now received the response and it details ten areas which are awaiting direction, plus a further nine separate public bodies that are awaiting Ministerial sign-off on appointments.

“These are not minor matters. Amongst the issues awaiting a Ministerial decision are   

• Consultation on the future Regional Infrastructure Support Programme (RISP)
• Affordable Warmth Scheme Public Consultation
• Arts and Culture Strategy
• Review of monetary limits for gaming machines and associated social responsibility issues
• Financial allocations within the Sub Regional Stadia Programme for Soccer.

“I have no doubt that every single Northern Ireland Department will have a similar list of decisions awaiting Ministerial approval. Given the recent Court of Appeal judgment, and bearing in mind there is no prospect of an Executive being formed in the short to medium term, the Secretary of State now has no option but to step in and take the decisions that are piling up across local departments.”