Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Farry Excerpts

Wednesday 17th January 2024 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Morgan (Portsmouth South) (Lab)]

1. What recent discussions he has had with party leaders on the restoration of power sharing in Northern Ireland.

[Stephen Farry (North Down) (Alliance)]

5. What recent progress he has made on the restoration of political institutions in Northern Ireland.

[Sarah Jones (Croydon Central) (Lab)]

11. What steps his Department plans to take to help restore power sharing in Northern Ireland.

--- Later in debate ---

[Stephen Farry]

I very much welcome the Secretary of State’s commitment to a £3.3 billion financial package. However, we are seemingly at an impasse. He will be aware that there is a groundswell of opinion that believes elements of the package should be released to address the ongoing crisis in our public services and, in particular, public sector pay pressures. Will he consider releasing some of that money to address public sector pay?

[Chris Heaton-Harris]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and, indeed, for the way in which he and his party have conducted themselves in the talks to try to restore the Executive. The UK Government put an extremely fair and generous package for a restored Executive, worth £3.3 billion, on the table before Christmas. The money that Northern Ireland civil servants and I have available is from the budget passed in this place in the last year.