Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her oral contribution of 12 March 2018, Official Report, columns 641 to 642, whether she plans to set the budget for Northern Ireland through an Order-in-Council; and if she will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland set out in a Written Ministerial statement about Northern Ireland Finances on 8 March resource and capital allocations for Northern Ireland Departments for the financial year 2018/19. On 20 March, the Secretary of State brought forward the Northern Ireland Budget (Anticipation and Adjustments) Bill which would provide a “Vote on Account” for the Northern Ireland Administration to undertake expenditure in the early months of 2018/19 for day to day spending. This vote on account is part of the normal estimates process and these allocations will need to be placed on a legal footing later in the year. We hope a restored Executive will be in place to take this through the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Secretary of State does not have the power to take forward a budget through an Order-in-Council.