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Written question asked by Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 13 September 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 October 2017 (named day). A holding answer was provided on Monday, 9 October 2017. A substantive answer was provided by James Brokenshire (Conservative) on Thursday, 16 November 2017 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Health Services: Northern Ireland

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the timescale is for allocating the additional funding for health as part of the Government's agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party in the absence of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Answer

Earlier this year, in recognition of the unique circumstances in Northern Ireland, the UK Government made clear that it was prepared to make available additional financial support following the confidence and supply agreement between the Conservative Party and the Democratic Unionist Party.

That agreement made clear our desire to see the money decided upon and spent by a restored Executive for the benefit of all in Northern Ireland. In the meantime, though, we acknowledge that Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances cannot simply be ignored, especially given the pressures that we have seen in the continued absence of an Executive.

That is why I announced during the Second Reading of the Northern Ireland Budget Bill on 13 November our commitment to make available £50m from the Confidence and Supply Agreement for addressing immediate health and education pressures in the 2017/18 financial year. If the Northern Ireland administration confirm that they would access this in 2017/18, that funding would form part of the Supplementary Estimates process in the New Year and be subject to the full authorisation of the House of Commons.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
10356
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Health services Finance Northern Ireland
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk