Long-term Northern Ireland funding plan needed to fix public services, MPs say

The Commons heard NHS waiting times in Northern Ireland are the longest in the UK and public services are ‘in crisis’ because of a lack of funding.

Carla Lockhart MP said that a fair funding allocation was needed for Northern Ireland (Jessica Taylor/PA) (PA Media)

Northern Ireland needs a long-term funding agreement from the UK Government to fix its public services which are in crisis, MPs have warned.

The House of Commons was told that road infrastructure was “crumbling”, and a lack of funding had made it harder to recruit officers for the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland).

It comes after the Northern Ireland Finance Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald published a Budget Sustainability Plan earlier this month, which detailed how Stormont would deliver a balanced budget which involves generating an extra £113 million.

Speaking during Northern Ireland Questions on Wednesday morning, Carla Lockhart, DUP MP for Upper Bann said: “The Budget Sustainability Plan is commendable but would the Secretary of State agree with me that our public services are in crisis, our roads are crumbling, we have the longest health waiting lists in the whole of the UK and our schools need investment.

“Therefore, Northern Ireland needs to be in receipt of a fair, long-term funding allocation based on Treasury needs. And will he confirm to this house that he is making the case for that in the Treasury for the people of Northern Ireland?”

Dr Archibald presented the plans earlier in October that would see the £113 million raised without extra cash-raising measures.

The target set by the Treasury was a precondition of a £3 billion-plus financial package offered by the UK Government to accompany the return of devolution in February.

Our public services are in crisis, our roads are crumbling, we have the longest health waiting lists in the whole of the UK and our schools need investment

Carla Lockhart

Earlier in the session Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn welcomed the publication of the plan and called it a “positive and necessary step towards sustainable public finances”.

He confirmed that discussions over a long-term fiscal agreement can now begin.

Mr Benn told Ms Lockhart: “The greater needs that Northern Ireland has for spending are recognised. That is why the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council was established to answer the question ‘what should that level of additional funding be’?

“They came to the conclusion that the figure should be 124% which is going to be met this year in respect to the budget and the interim fiscal framework.

“If further credible sources come along suggesting this should be a different figure, then the Government would undertake to look at that, but nothing takes away from the Executive’s responsibility to manage the budget that it has got and to take the decisions, including on reform.”

Independent MP for North Down Alex Easton raised concerns that funding levels would mean the PSNI would not have enough officers.

“Does he agree with me that the resources for the budget for the Justice Minister are extremely short and we are not able to recruit enough PSNI officers?”

Mr Benn said: “Decisions about the allocation of the Northern Ireland budget rest with the Northern Ireland Executive.

“Funds go to the Justice Minister, the Justice Minister then decides principally how much to pass on to the policing board for policing costs, and how much to deal with the justice system and the prisons, which are also under pressure.”

Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Alex Burghart (Brentwood and Ongar) later asked whether police funding would fall under national security, and, therefore, become something that Westminster should pay for.

He said: “Policing in Northern Ireland is a devolved issue, but national security is not. If we look at policing right now, at an all-time low, we are reminded that his party’s manifesto made explicit commitments to improve public services in Northern Ireland.

“Will the Government commit to ensure that there is policing in Northern Ireland sufficient to keep the people of Northern Ireland safe and to maintain national security.

“And will he commit to protect the additional security funding of £32m a year that comes direct from the (Treasury).”

Mr Benn said: “He just has to wait a week to see what the Budget produces.

“But I would simply say to him that the PSNI and the security services and others do an outstanding job in Northern Ireland protecting the people of Northern Ireland from terrorist threats, and we should all support them in that endeavour.”