This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21859635

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
UK Budget 'should boost NI economy' says Villiers Minister Sammy Wilson gives Budget 'cautious welcome'
(about 1 hour later)
The UK Budget for 2013 will boost the Northern Ireland economy and ensure fairness for families, the NI Secretary has said. Northern Ireland finance minister, Sammy Wilson, has given Tuesday's Budget a cautious welcome.
Theresa Villiers said measures announced in Tuesday's Budget would help everyone who wants to work hard. He said he endorsed the government's decision to protect front-line services in health and education.
NI Secretary Theresa Villiers said it would boost the economy and ensure fairness for families.
But shadow NI secretary Vernon Coaker said that on a day when NI unemployment reached a 15-year high, it did "nothing to help people get back to work".But shadow NI secretary Vernon Coaker said that on a day when NI unemployment reached a 15-year high, it did "nothing to help people get back to work".
Northern Ireland was getting a "bad deal", he said.Northern Ireland was getting a "bad deal", he said.
Ms Villiers said the 2013 Budget "recognises the urgent need to renew and rebalance the economy away from an over-reliance on the public sector."
"We need to boost private sector growth and jobs, and today's announcements will provide a stimulus," she said.
Headline measures include:Headline measures include:
Mr Wilson said he was particularly glad that the UK Government had acknowledged the key role that capital spending on infrastructure has in stimulating economic growth.
He welcomed the decision to exempt NI from the carbon price floor - a tax measure that would have undermined the competitiveness of energy generators within the all-island market, he said.
"This not only would have put jobs in the sector at risk but also would have produced higher bills for energy consumers in Northern Ireland.
"This was a problem unique to the Northern Ireland energy market and our concerns have now been addressed - this will be much to the relief of hard-pressed households," he said.
The minister also welcomed the cancellation of an expected 3p increase in fuel duty.
"This additional tax burden would have hit Northern Ireland businesses hard as they already pay some of the highest fuel prices in the UK," he said.
A rise in the personal income tax allowance to £10,000 would help 618,000 taxpayers in Northern Ireland, lifting 7,000 out of income tax altogether, he said.
"The 2014-15 employment allowance of £2,000 per business will help 25,000 businesses here and lift some 10,000 out of employer National Insurance contributions altogether," he added.
Northern Ireland Secretary Ms Villiers said the 2013 Budget recognised "the urgent need to renew and rebalance the economy away from an over-reliance on the public sector".
"We need to boost private sector growth and jobs, and today's announcements will provide a stimulus," she said.
Speaking from Washington DC, Ms Villiers said families and businesses across NI would benefit from a range of new measures aimed at supporting aspiration, creating jobs and helping with the cost of living.Speaking from Washington DC, Ms Villiers said families and businesses across NI would benefit from a range of new measures aimed at supporting aspiration, creating jobs and helping with the cost of living.
Finance Minister Sammy Wilson gave Tuesday's Budget a cautious welcome. He said he endorsed the Government's decision to protect front-line services in health and education.