Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what costs they estimate will be incurred by the Northern Ireland Executive were the Department for Work and Pensions information technology system to be unable to process claims from Northern Ireland residents.

Northern Ireland is responsible for its own social security, pensions and child support systems. The Northern Ireland and Great Britain systems have traditionally operated in tandem in what is effectively a United Kingdom wide system.

Should Northern Ireland decide not to mirror the welfare reform measures in Great Britain, it would be a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive to determine and fund the IT systems needed as a result of their decision.