Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
1st Report - Funding and delivery of public services: follow up
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
HC 477
Published 7 April 2025
Recommendations
2
Deferred
Northern Ireland requires stable, needs-based funding, with potential backdating, for public services.
Recommendation
Northern Ireland must be funded according to its level of need. In the short term, that means in the main by central Government. The previous Government accepted that for every £100 spent on public services in England, it costs £124 …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that Northern Ireland is currently funded above its independently assessed level of need and will receive a large settlement through the Spending Review. It commits to immediately begin negotiations on a full Fiscal Framework to determine long-term, stable, and predictable needs-based funding.
Northern Ireland Office
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3
Deferred
Backdate Northern Ireland's assessed funding need based on Holtham's independent review.
Recommendation
The Government must engage constructively with the conclusions of Prof. Gerald Holtham’s independent review of Northern Ireland’s level of need in deciding future levels of, and mechanisms for, needs-based funding. In negotiations with the Executive on the final Fiscal Framework, …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that negotiations on a full Northern Ireland Executive Fiscal Framework, encompassing the Holtham Review, will commence immediately, deferring decisions on backdating assessed need or compensating for past shortfalls. It highlights that NI is currently funded above its independently assessed level of need.
Northern Ireland Office
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Conclusions (1)
7
Conclusion
Deferred
As a matter of urgency, the Government and Executive should agree a final Fiscal Framework which includes a route map to potential further fiscal devolution—to improve Northern Ireland’s public services and the daily lives of all the people of Northern Ireland. (Recommendation, Paragraph 74) 37
Government Response Summary
The government response quotes a statement about the need for stable, sustainable, multi-year funding for Northern Ireland's public services. It does not directly state the government's commitment to agreeing a final Fiscal Framework or a route map to further fiscal devolution as recommended.