Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sarah Bool and Hilary Benn

Wednesday 2nd April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Bool (South Northamptonshire) (Con)]

5. What assessment he has made of the impact of the autumn Budget 2024 on Northern Ireland.

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)]

The record £18.2 billion funding settlement for 2025-26 will provide Northern Ireland with funding in line with its independently assessed level of need, and it is now for the Executive to decide how that funding is spent.

[Sarah Bool]

The Royal College of General Practitioners in Northern Ireland has said that the hike in national insurance contributions will be catastrophic for GP surgeries. With many practices teetering on the edge, why are Ministers not doing more to talk to their colleagues in the Treasury?

[Hilary Benn]

I would point out to the hon. Member that the previous Government left—[Interruption.] However much they may deny it, the previous Government left a fiscal black hole that had to be filled. The increase in expenditure resulting from the autumn Budget is helping to fund, in part, the record settlement that the Northern Ireland Executive have got for 2025-26.