Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what amount of Annually Managed Expenditure which was earmarked for the payment of Renewable Heat Incentive Schemes was not so used by the Northern Ireland Executive in each of the last three financial years.

The Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme is administered by the Department for the Economy in the NI Executive, while devolved fiscal matters are for the Department of Finance. A consultation document on the future of the RHI scheme has been published by DfE and includes information on the Annually Managed Expenditure budget for the last three years.

It is of course vital that there is accountability for public spending and the Executive is building sustainable public services. That is why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has pushed for the establishment of an Independent Fiscal Council, as per the New Decade, New Approach agreement. Such a body would provide an assessment of the Executive’s spending proposals and consider the sustainability of the Executive’s public finances, including the implications of spending policy and the effectiveness of long-term efficiency measures.