UUP Finance Spokesperson critical of Draft Budget and raises non-realisation of Mooted Financial Package
Ulster Unionist Party Finance spokesman and MLA for East Antrim, Roy Beggs Jnr has criticised the proposed allocation of resources in the draft budget during today’s budget debate at the Assembly. Referring to the non realisation of a financial package which had been previously flagged up as a deal breaker for the DUP prior to the re establishment of an Executive in May, Mr Beggs said:
“Sadly we will be faced with difficult choices as we approach the budget bill.
The choices would have been easier if the First Minister’s party had gained the £1b peace dividend that they promised prior to devolution. However after made the promise of new money prior to the election, they quickly forgot about it and went on to talk up the review of taxation in NI.
Having dashed hopes of a major economic package with slight of hand the media focus was switched to “The Varney Review” and the promise of lower corporation tax to kick start our economy.
I cannot help but notice the lack of mention of lower corporation tax from the Finance minister of recent months and can only assume that good news is not expected”
The East Antrim MLA went on to question the percentage increase in the departmental budget of Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness’s joint office.
“Why is the Finance minister proposing to give a much greater increase to the budget of the DUP-Sinn Fein Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister than that given to the Department of Health It is staggering to think that the DUP-Sinn Fein Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister is receiving greater priority than our National Health Service. That this is occurring at a time when health expenditure in the rest of the UK is rising at a significantly greater level will only increase the unacceptable disparity between health care in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK.
It is puzzling that the Draft Programme for Government says that it is giving priority to personal health and well-being and goes on to recognise that a strong economy requires a healthy population.
If this is so, why has OFMDFM received a much greater budget increase than our National Health Service? If the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, and the Finance Minister, had a genuine commitment to our National Health Service it is obvious that they would not have made the choice to pass by the NHS and increase the budget of their favoured department OFMDFM. A budget that gives priority to OFMDFM over the National Health Service is not a budget that puts the needs of Northern Ireland first.”