Public Service Delivery: Devolved Governments

Lord Caine Excerpts

Tuesday 27th October 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

Nationalism is never the answer. The UK Government are committed to delivering change across all four nations of the UK and believe strongly in the benefits of the union, as the Prime Minister has made clear.

[Lord Caine (Con)]

My Lords, the Northern Ireland Executive have failed to set a budget for the first seven months of this financial year. This is hitting public services particularly hard, and health service workers are balloting for industrial action. As Northern Ireland departments will begin to run out of money at the end of January, can the Minister confirm that the Secretary of State will set a budget here if there is no resolution by that date?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The UK Budget is being held tomorrow. In relation to the Northern Ireland budget, the Government have in difficult financial circumstances offered a generous package of over £1.5 billion to help manage pressures there and provide stability to public services. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has been personally involved in the negotiations and has made it clear that if the Executive continue to fail to agree a budget, he will consider all options to ensure that public services get the clarity and certainty that they need.