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Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott has said that figures relesed showing departmental underspend in nearly all parts of the Executive is very worrying for the people of Northern Ireland.

Mr Elliott said: “As a member of the committee of the First and Deputy first Ministers office I was able to attain figures showing the underspend by all departments within the Stormont Executive for 2006-2007. There are many depressing statistics. For example, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) had a gross underspend of £5,714,000 for that year. This included falls in the amount invested in Rural Development which underspent by 24.3% or £431,000 and Environment and Renewable Energy which underspent by 84.1% or £837,000. I do not want to be over critical of the department as areas such as the River Agency saw an increase in spending, but with other parts of the rural community losing out it is a very worrying time.”

Across each of the departments underspending has become a major issue. The biggest fall in percentage was experienced by that of the Office of First and deputy First Ministers which saw an underspend of 36.5% or £842,000 overall.

However, more worrying some individual areas within departments suffered monumental losses including that of the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency within the Department of the Environment, which saw a huge underspend of 54.4%.

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone representative went on to say: “The issue of underspending is certainly one that needs to be studied closely at as it effects every department. Realistically I understand that not each departmental area is not going to receive the same funding every year. What the biggest problem here is, is that there are so many areas within each department that are suffering from underspend that services to the people of Northern Ireland can not avoid been effected. MLA’s are elected to work for the people and so it is our duty to make sure the underspending is tackled so that the people of Northern Ireland receive the best services possible.”

Upper Bann Ulster Unionist Assembly Member, George Savage MLA today, in conjunction with fellow MLA’s Danny Kennedy, David McNarry and David Burnside lodged the following motion for debate in the Assembly,

That this Assembly believes, following devolution in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, that a Royal Commission should be appointed to review the steps that need to be taken to maintain the unity of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom.

Speaking from Stormont, George said,

“It has come to my attention that Government in Westminster has tasked the Minister for Justice and Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw to consult with regard to a new written constitution in the United Kingdom. This raises a number of important issues for us here in Northern Ireland and that is why in our 2007 Election Manifesto, my Party called for a Royal Commission to be appointed”.

“It is deeply concerning that at the present time, every devolved government in the United Kingdom is headed by nationalists of some sort. In Wales, Plaid Cymru are in coalition with Labour, in Scotland the SNP are the minority government and in Northern Ireland, the Executive is an uneasy coalition of the Ulster Nationalists of the DUP and the Irish Nationalists of Sinn Fein.”

“for this very reason, we want to ensure the continuance of the Union because that lies at the very core of being a Unionist and that is one of the central aims of the Ulster Unionist Party – to promote, strengthen and maintain the Union. I am concerned that this proposed codified UK Constitution will lead to the beginning of a federalized United Kingdom. I am also keen to ensure that the position of Northern Ireland, her citizens and her interests are protected within this document.”

“We, here in Northern Ireland are an integral part of the United Kingdom and this motion which I have lodged today, to all intents and purposes, is concerned with the future constitutional make up of the United Kingdom”

“I look forward to the debate in the Assembly where it will be most interesting to see and hear the viewpoints of both the Irish and perhaps more importantly and interestingly, the Ulster Nationalists.”