Ulster Unionist Finance Spokesman Leslie Cree has commented on the Budget Bill which was debated by the Assembly today (Monday) following a two week delay caused by the failure of the Finance Minister Sammy Wilson to provide the relevant information to the Assembly’s Finance Committee. 

The North Down MLA said:

“I was pleased that we were finally able to debate the Budget Bill. It was right that the Committee took the stance it did and the Minister well knows that theAssembly should have had more time to consider and scrutinise the information.

At times the Finance Minister's attitude has not been helpful. He accused various members of the Committee ofbeing ‘truculent’, ‘petulant’ and ‘opportunistic’. I would put across the opinion that the Committee was simply seeking to do its job in carrying out the obligations placed on it.

We were also given conflicting stories about whether the delay was caused by the Minister himself or by an oversight in his Private Office. There still remains some doubt over the root of the problem.

I also disagree with the Minister's comments that 95% of the budget was already outlined in the 4 year budget and that as a consequence we really should not have much to talk about.

That is simply wrong. Each Budget year is a stand-alone budget year. Each budget year, which authorises the spending of some £8.2 billion, should be given the necessary scrutiny both inthe Finance Committee and in this Chamber. The public rightly expect that to be the case.

The precedent set this year is that every year’s budget will be given the proper consideration and not glossed over because a four year budget was agreed by some in this House previously.

If we consider the changes which have been made from the 2011-15 budget document to the figures dealt with today and in the Main Estimates, it is clear that allocations have been altered inrespect of the 2012/13 budget year.

For example, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has just under £8 million less resource, the Department of Education has £30 million resource, the Department of Employment and Learning has nearly £40 million more in terms of resource. Those are just a few examples which illustrate the point.

Finally as regards the Budget, the Northern Ireland Civil Service equal pay claims are an issue which remain unresolved. I understand that there is £26 million set aside for the purposes of meeting the equal pay claim and this will still be available this year. However, there is an urgency to this issue given that, as far as I am aware, there are no assurances that the funds will be in place indefinitely. The Minister has a duty to ensure that these claims are settled equitably and I am seeking an update from the Minister on the stage at which proceedings are at.”

-ENDS-