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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Politicians fear NI budget cuts | Politicians fear NI budget cuts |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Politicians at Stormont fear millions of pounds could be cut from the government block grant as a result of the budget. | Politicians at Stormont fear millions of pounds could be cut from the government block grant as a result of the budget. |
| First Minister Peter Robinson has warned of a negative impact if Gordon Brown reneges on a pledge to give NI a three-year financial settlement. | First Minister Peter Robinson has warned of a negative impact if Gordon Brown reneges on a pledge to give NI a three-year financial settlement. |
| Some predict that between £140m and £600m could be taken from Stormont. | Some predict that between £140m and £600m could be taken from Stormont. |
| Mr Brown has told the Commons on Wednesday that government funding to Northern Ireland is based on need. | Mr Brown has told the Commons on Wednesday that government funding to Northern Ireland is based on need. |
| Behind-the-scenes talks have taken place in recent weeks between Northern Ireland politicians and Downing Street. | Behind-the-scenes talks have taken place in recent weeks between Northern Ireland politicians and Downing Street. |
| BBC Northern Ireland political reporter Stephen Walker said: "Whilst predictions differed greatly there appeared to be a growing consensus - that cuts are inevitable and they will hit the work of the executive." | BBC Northern Ireland political reporter Stephen Walker said: "Whilst predictions differed greatly there appeared to be a growing consensus - that cuts are inevitable and they will hit the work of the executive." |
| The DUP's Simon Hamilton, the Stormont finance committee vice-chair, said cuts would be a breach of the deal which restored devolution. | The DUP's Simon Hamilton, the Stormont finance committee vice-chair, said cuts would be a breach of the deal which restored devolution. |
| Unacceptable | |
| "A guaranteed comprehensive spending review settlement and the acceptance of the principle that any efficiency savings made in Northern Ireland would be retained in Northern Ireland were parts of the financial package that saw devolution restored," he said. | "A guaranteed comprehensive spending review settlement and the acceptance of the principle that any efficiency savings made in Northern Ireland would be retained in Northern Ireland were parts of the financial package that saw devolution restored," he said. |
| "Welshing on those commitments would be completely unacceptable." | "Welshing on those commitments would be completely unacceptable." |
| Sinn Fein's finance spokesman Mitchel McLaughlin said the tough economic climate strengthens the argument for greater fiscal control in the hands of locally elected politicians. | Sinn Fein's finance spokesman Mitchel McLaughlin said the tough economic climate strengthens the argument for greater fiscal control in the hands of locally elected politicians. |
| "Decisions taken by the British Treasury are taken in the interests of the British government, the British banking system and economic conditions pertaining principally on the island of Britain," he said. | "Decisions taken by the British Treasury are taken in the interests of the British government, the British banking system and economic conditions pertaining principally on the island of Britain," he said. |
| "Any affects that these decisions have on conditions in the North of Ireland are peripheral to the thinking of the British Treasury. | "Any affects that these decisions have on conditions in the North of Ireland are peripheral to the thinking of the British Treasury. |
| "Sinn Fein believes that the only long term solution facing us on this Island, both north and south, is a single strategy on taxation and regional and economic development." | "Sinn Fein believes that the only long term solution facing us on this Island, both north and south, is a single strategy on taxation and regional and economic development." |
| Northern Ireland receives a block grant of about £18bn every year, £10bn of which is controlled by the Executive. | Northern Ireland receives a block grant of about £18bn every year, £10bn of which is controlled by the Executive. |
| If the Executive has to make savings at the lowest predicted figure of £140m that would be equivalent to the entire annual budget of the Department of the Environment. | If the Executive has to make savings at the lowest predicted figure of £140m that would be equivalent to the entire annual budget of the Department of the Environment. |
| Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland drinks industry has warned a rise in alcohol duty in the budget would put jobs at risk. | Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland drinks industry has warned a rise in alcohol duty in the budget would put jobs at risk. |
| The drinks industry is also worried about the chancellor's announcement | The drinks industry is also worried about the chancellor's announcement |
| The Federation of Retail Licensed Trade (FRLT) said it could "cripple the industry", which employs about 34,000. | The Federation of Retail Licensed Trade (FRLT) said it could "cripple the industry", which employs about 34,000. |
| In December, the Federation of Retail Licensed Trade said sales in beer had fallen 8% as more people buy alcohol in supermarkets. | In December, the Federation of Retail Licensed Trade said sales in beer had fallen 8% as more people buy alcohol in supermarkets. |
| "The Republic had duty frozen, but I doubt we'd be that lucky," said FRTL chief executive Colin Neil. | "The Republic had duty frozen, but I doubt we'd be that lucky," said FRTL chief executive Colin Neil. |
| "In addition to rising duty, publicans are contending with increases in energy, transportation and raw material costs at a time when many in the pub industry are fighting for survival," said Mr Neil. | "In addition to rising duty, publicans are contending with increases in energy, transportation and raw material costs at a time when many in the pub industry are fighting for survival," said Mr Neil. |
| "In these recessionary times, the end result will be that it will be cheaper to drink at home than in the pub. | "In these recessionary times, the end result will be that it will be cheaper to drink at home than in the pub. |
| "Therefore we fully expect that as a result of any further price increases more and more people will stay at home to drink." | "Therefore we fully expect that as a result of any further price increases more and more people will stay at home to drink." |