Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Scottish Government, Northern Ireland Executive or Welsh Government can pass an annual budget that includes spending limits higher than the anticipated income to those devolved administrations.

The processes around setting annual budgets to fund public services within the devolved competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly reflect the specific arrangements set out in both legislation passed by Parliament, and by each of the devolved legislatures.

The Treasury sets annual control totals for each of the devolved administrations which inform the level of funding Parliament is asked to make available to each of the Northern Ireland, Scottish and Welsh Consolidated Funds. The Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Offices can only release cash into the devolved Consolidated Funds up to the level approved by Parliament in the relevant Supply Estimate.