Agreement reached on budget cuts

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The finance minister has said executive ministers have reached an agreement in principle on cuts to the Stormont budget for the next financial year.

Sammy Wilson has said £370m of savings have to be made.

The cuts were discussed at an executive meeting on Thursday. Mr Wilson said he would give the assembly the full details in the New Year.

"Department have to go away and look at, what they need to reduce from their budget," he said.

"They have got to decide what items to reduce on that budget."

In September, a confidential memo from Mr Wilson to other executive ministers said cuts of £200m were required from current expenditure, as well as £172m from capital spending - such as roads, hospitals and schools.