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Brown publishes NI policing plans | Brown publishes NI policing plans |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has published budget proposals for the devolution of policing and justice. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has published budget proposals for the devolution of policing and justice. |
The move comes after he met the Northern Ireland first and deputy first minister in Downing Street on Tuesday. | The move comes after he met the Northern Ireland first and deputy first minister in Downing Street on Tuesday. |
The prime minister told the Commons on Wednesday that "our aim is a peaceful, more secure and more prosperous Northern Ireland". | The prime minister told the Commons on Wednesday that "our aim is a peaceful, more secure and more prosperous Northern Ireland". |
He said he had written to the party leaders outlining the budget, believed to be in the region of £800m-1bn. | He said he had written to the party leaders outlining the budget, believed to be in the region of £800m-1bn. |
Mr Brown said he had made arrangements for the cost of dealing with security emergencies in Northern Ireland to be met from Treasury reserves. | Mr Brown said he had made arrangements for the cost of dealing with security emergencies in Northern Ireland to be met from Treasury reserves. |
There had been concerns at Stormont that future security problems could have swallowed up devolved budgets for services such as education, housing and health. | There had been concerns at Stormont that future security problems could have swallowed up devolved budgets for services such as education, housing and health. |
The First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have met Conservative leader David Cameron to discuss the proposals. | |
Mr Robinson has been anxious to ensure that any future Conservative government honours the deal agreed with Mr Brown. | |
Package proposals | Package proposals |
The complex package contains a range of proposals. | The complex package contains a range of proposals. |
• The Northern Ireland Executive would, in any one year, have to meet the first £12m of compensation claims by police officers suffering from hearing loss. | • The Northern Ireland Executive would, in any one year, have to meet the first £12m of compensation claims by police officers suffering from hearing loss. |
Anything above that would be met by the Treasury. To help the Executive meet the £12m a year bill the Treasury would buy Executive assets worth up to £12m a year, for five years, or £60m in total. | Anything above that would be met by the Treasury. To help the Executive meet the £12m a year bill the Treasury would buy Executive assets worth up to £12m a year, for five years, or £60m in total. |
PRIME MINISTER'S LETTER Read Gordon Brown's letter in full | PRIME MINISTER'S LETTER Read Gordon Brown's letter in full |
• Another of the proposals is that the Executive would get four former military bases. | • Another of the proposals is that the Executive would get four former military bases. |
This would be on the understanding that three of them are sold off. The fourth, Lisanelly in Omagh, has already been earmarked for an educational campus. | This would be on the understanding that three of them are sold off. The fourth, Lisanelly in Omagh, has already been earmarked for an educational campus. |
• An extra £20m a year for the legal aid budget will be made available through to the end of 2012/13. | • An extra £20m a year for the legal aid budget will be made available through to the end of 2012/13. |
After that an additional £14m a year would be available, thought it is not yet clear for how long this extra funding would continue. | After that an additional £14m a year would be available, thought it is not yet clear for how long this extra funding would continue. |
On top of that, there would be a one-off sum of £12m to meet legal aid pressures over the next two years, though if pressures turn out to be higher then up to £39m would be available. | On top of that, there would be a one-off sum of £12m to meet legal aid pressures over the next two years, though if pressures turn out to be higher then up to £39m would be available. |
• Changes to financial rules would help address £101m pressure facing police pensions. | • Changes to financial rules would help address £101m pressure facing police pensions. |
• Money would be made available to complete the construction of a new police training college. | • Money would be made available to complete the construction of a new police training college. |
The Northern Ireland Secretary will also meet the region's Chief Constable for talks under the plan to ensure frontline policing is protected. | |
The Northern Ireland Policing Board is expected to hold a meeting later in the week to discuss the detail of the letter. | The Northern Ireland Policing Board is expected to hold a meeting later in the week to discuss the detail of the letter. |
The Northern Ireland parties will now discuss the details of the financial blueprint. | The Northern Ireland parties will now discuss the details of the financial blueprint. |
Sinn Fein and the DUP have been arguing over when powers should be devolved. | Sinn Fein and the DUP have been arguing over when powers should be devolved. |
Sinn Fein has already approved the deal and says devolution should have happened already. | Sinn Fein has already approved the deal and says devolution should have happened already. |
While the DUP have said the unionist community must have confidence in any proposed arrangements before devolution happens. | While the DUP have said the unionist community must have confidence in any proposed arrangements before devolution happens. |