Caoimhe Archibald
East Londonderry · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“Taken together, that points to a scheme that is operating effectively in its early stages, while, of course, remaining under review as further evidence becomes available. <BR /> <BR />I therefore commend to the Assembly the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Employment and Earnings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026.”
“I seek the Assembly's approval for the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Employment and Earnings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026. The statutory rule was made on 1 April and came into operation on 6 April. It is before the Assembly today under the confirmatory procedure.”
“The 2026 regulatory impact assessment estimates one-off employer familiarisation costs of up to £1·36 million, with wider HMRC implementation costs forecast at £1·5 million and annual systems maintenance costs of around £10,000. It may assist Members to note that early implementation has gone smoothly.”
“The amendment ensures the continued operation of those regulations and forms part of a wider package of legislative measures establishing statutory parental bereavement pay as an entitlement for bereaved parents.”
“The regulations before the Assembly today are a key part of that implementation and ensure the continued operation of the statutory parental bereavement pay framework. The policy objective is clear: to support bereaved working parents at a time of profound loss and provide a minimum standard of protection in law.”
“<BR /> <BR />The confirmatory procedure means that the regulations before the House today have come into operation before the Assembly debate has taken place and must then be approved by the Assembly within the relevant statutory period. In this case, the deadline for approval is 20 September 2026.”
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“We are acutely aware of the huge pressures on our public services and, in setting the regional rate, the need to balance that with the pressures facing households and businesses. That is why the existing £350 million of rates support provided to households and businesses will continue for 2024-25. That will see the continuation of £240 million of rates support provided to 75% of non-domestic ratepayers. That includes the small business rate relief scheme, which supports 29,000 businesses. Over 4,400 manufacturing firms will continue to be supported by 70% off their rates through industrial derating. That relief is unique to this jurisdiction. <BR /> <BR />In addition to the existing business rates support, I intend to reintroduce the Back in Business scheme.”
“<BR /> <BR />Following positive engagement, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has recognised the challenges of raising £113 million of revenue, given how close we are to the start of the financial year and the limited financial levers that are at our disposal. The Chief Secretary has agreed flexibility that that can be generated over 24 months instead of 12 months. Treasury has been clear that the enhanced time frame for the development of a sustainability plan and to generate the £113 million of locally raised income is contingent on the Executive delivering a balanced Budget in 2024-25. <BR /> <BR />The Executive's recommendation to the Assembly should be seen as a clear demonstration that we recognise that we need to ensure that our finances are on a more sustainable footing in order to deliver high-quality public services.”
“Our priority as an Executive is to ensure sustainable finances to deliver high-quality public services. Underpinning that must be a commitment to funding on the basis of need. Members will be aware that Treasury's position on the financial package is that the write-off of £559 million is conditional on raising income through local revenue and the production of a sustainability plan. My strong view and that of the Executive is that the £559 million of debt exists due to the underfunding of public services. However, starting our 2025-26 Budget in a deficit of that quantum would do inconceivable harm to our public services.”
“That means that owners of a domestic property with an average capital value within the rating system of £123,000 will pay 46p a week more on the regional rate element of their bill. For businesses with a rateable value of £50,000, it will mean an additional £10.73 a week on that element. <BR /> <BR />Some may argue that the regional rate should be frozen in cash terms or reduced in order to alleviate the pressures of the current economic backdrop, which continue to affect businesses and households. Others have made public their view that rates should be higher. Failure to raise the regional rate at all would mean fewer resources for other areas that all Members care about: healthcare, education, roads and investment in other essential public services.”
“<BR /> <BR />The legislation before the House today will fix two regional rates in the pound for 2024-25: one for domestic ratepayers and one for non-domestic ratepayers. Mindful of the pressures on household budgets and businesses, Executive colleagues and I have decided to keep the regional rate in line with inflation. Too great an increase runs the risk of less being collected and of eroding the tax base. It is also clear, however, that we need to increase the funding available to us to meet the acute pressures across public services. That is why we have agreed to a consumer prices index (CPI) inflationary uplift of 4% for domestic and non-domestic ratepayers.”
“It also provides 75% of council income for local services. Taken together, the domestic and non-domestic regional rates — the amount from rates that goes to the Executive — are forecast to raise around £700 million in the forthcoming financial year. <BR /> <BR />When it comes to the specific breakdown of rates bills, the regional rate represents just over half the typical bill, with the other half being made up of district rates. The Executive have no decision-making power over the level of the rate poundage, which local councils set. Councils set them in the context of their expenditure needs. There is a role for both the Executive and local councils, moving forward, in carefully managing the acceptability of a tax that is so vital to funding the needs of citizens.”
“Thank you. <BR /> <BR />Members will be aware that legislation to set the regional rate for businesses and households is passed annually and that the procedure is usually part of the Budget process. Owing to timing issues, however, that has not been possible for the 2024-25 regional rates. Regional rates are therefore being considered separately to ensure that rate bills issue on time in April. The late issuing of bills, even by a short period, leads to a compressed time being available for rate collection and increased rate arrears. <BR /> <BR />So far this year, Land and Property Services (LPS) has collected £1·5 billion in rates. The revenue raised from the regional rates provides around 5% of the Executive's resource budget, providing vital funding for hospitals, roads, schools and other essential public services.”
“Members will be aware that legislation to set the regional rate for businesses and households —.”
“I know that the workers involved have waited a long time for the increases that they are entitled to, so I will continue to do what I can to ensure that negotiations are concluded and awards made as quickly as possible. <BR /> <BR />Although we are discussing pay issues for this year, we will soon need to turn to public-sector pay considerations for next year. I had a constructive first meeting with the Treasury last week and look forward to continued engagement in the time ahead. I welcome the agreement of the Treasury to immediately commence work together on the development of a fiscal framework that reflects our level of need. That will be critical to delivering sustainably funded high quality public services, including on public-sector pay.”
“That is particularly pertinent in healthcare: when staff are on strike, it is about not just pay but safe staffing levels. It is important that we progress that also. Public-sector workers right across the public sector will be key to delivering the transformation that we all want to see, so it is important that they are properly recompensed. <BR /> <BR />As I have said, I want to see public-sector pay awards for 2023-24 made to staff as soon as possible. For my part, I think that I have done what I could in the short space of time since the return of the institutions to make sure that that happens. We are not there yet, and more work remains to be done.”
“Diane Forsythe mentioned the need to settle disputes quickly. She said that we were not able to give Departments everything that they want. That was the case, but we allocated as much as we were able to, and I am glad that the Executive supported the proposition that was put forward. I agree with Alan Chambers: no workers, healthcare or otherwise, want to be on picket lines and suffer financial penalty for being there. <BR /> <BR />I do not agree with Mr Frew's assertions on fiscal devolution, but I am sure that we will debate that many times in the time ahead. Mr Honeyford, Cara Hunter, Stewart Dickson and Justin McNulty all mentioned the value of our public-sector workers. They need to be valued, and to have a good quality of life and good working conditions as well as decent pay.”
“I know that the Health Minister, for example, has submitted a written statement to the Assembly that sets out the latest position on health pay negotiations. <BR /> <BR />I will address some of the comments that Members made in the debate. Mr McCrossan mentioned giving unions time and space. He said that the negotiations were not going quickly enough, and that it is important that unions' processes are respected. I know that Ministers and employers are trying to progress their end of negotiations as quickly as possible. <BR /> <BR />Declan Kearney and Liz Kimmins both mentioned the impact of Tory austerity, which I agree was a political choice to run down public services across Britain and here. I agree with Mr Kearney about the need for a social dialogue and a new funding model.”
“As I said, I am not responsible for finalising pay negotiations for public-sector staff groups, except for those who get Civil Service pay. It is right that we afford unions the time and space that they need to ballot their members. <BR /> <BR />In the case of civil servants, we expect that non-industrial unions' consultation with members will be concluded by the middle of March, with industrial unions' consultation expected to take eight weeks. I will update members once negotiations around Civil Service pay have been concluded. As for the other public-sector staff groups that are involved, it is for the relevant Ministers involved to update Members on those negotiations as they will be closer to the details of each.”
“For my part, I have done what I can as quickly as possible to make sure that public-sector workers receive the pay awards that they are entitled to for 2023-24. I know that other Ministers with responsibility for other groups of public-sector workers are seeking to agree pay awards for this year as quickly as possible. <BR /> <BR />My strong hope is that the negotiations will come to a conclusion as soon as possible so that the pay awards can be implemented as quickly as possible and provide some relief to public-sector workers and their families. The motion calls on:”
“By increasing pay in line with the Living Wage Foundation rate, the annual pay will rise to £23,177. That represents a 10% increase. The pay offer that I have made will, if accepted, see that 10% increase for the lowest-paid staff backdated to August 2023. The eligible staff will also receive the further £1,500 non-consolidated payment. <BR /> <BR />I understand that the unions will ballot their members on the offer. I am pleased to note that NIPSA, the union with the biggest membership in the Civil Service, has recommended the offer to its members. I hope that staff will look favourably on the offer and that unions' consultation with their members will proceed as swiftly as possible so that we can get pay to staff as soon as is practicable.”
“I quickly gave officials a negotiating remit to engage with unions on the 2023-24 pay award. I asked for those discussions to conclude as quickly as possible in order to get the offer made, and I am pleased to advise that negotiations started on 19 February and that the pay offers were issued on 26 February. The Civil Service pay offer will see the majority of civil servants receive a 5% consolidated increase plus a one-off £1,500 non-consolidated payment. Some will also receive progression increments. <BR /> <BR />I am also pleased to maintain the commitment for the Civil Service to be a Living Wage Foundation (LWF) employer, and pay will be increased to match the most recent Living Wage Foundation real living wage rate of £12 per hour. The lowest-paid staff in the Civil Service earn £21,053 a year.”
“You will know the urgency with which that had to be taken forward, and I am grateful for the support and cooperation that I received to enable the legislation to be introduced at such pace. It was borne out of necessity. <BR /> <BR />I agree entirely that public-sector workers have waited too long to get the pay rise that they are entitled to for 2023-24. The fact that the delay has taken place in the context of a severe cost-of-living crisis and a squeeze on household budgets has only exacerbated the impact that we know that so many of our citizens have felt. <BR /> <BR />The pay negotiations that I, as Finance Minister, am directly responsible for are those for Civil Service pay. On taking office, I prioritised meeting Civil Service unions. Those meetings were among the first that I had in my first week as Finance Minister.”
“That funding, along with the £380 million for departmental overspends, has now been provided as a total resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL) allocation for each Department. Gaining Executive agreement to those departmental allocations meant that Departments could immediately begin to take forward negotiations to agree public-sector pay awards for 2023-24. Providing that allocation for pay as part of a broader funding envelope granted flexibility to Departments to manage pay awards within the overall funding available. As Members will also be aware, I then brought forward a Budget Bill for 2023-24, which gave Departments the legal authority to spend the funding that the Executive agreed to.”
“It was important that we went as far as we could, and that is what we did as an Executive.”
“One of the first actions that I took as Minister of Finance was to seek flexibility from the Treasury around the funding that was made available in the financial package to deal with the departmental overspends and public-sector pay. Getting that flexibility meant that the amount that the Executive could allocate for pay was over £100 million more than originally provided for in the financial package, so there was some £688 million in total. I was pleased that the Executive supported the proposal to allocate that amount towards public-sector pay. It signals that we value our public-sector workers. Those workers, including our civil servants, deliver public services in our communities on a daily basis in our schools, our hospitals, across the transport network and right across the public sector.”
“I thank those who have taken part in today's debate on public-sector pay. I will respond to some Members' comments in the course of my remarks and address others at the end. <BR /> <BR />Our public-sector workers are at the heart of service delivery. The Executive are united on the need to resolve public-sector pay.”
“Unless I have received notification while I have been in the Chamber, we do not have a date for the next meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council. It is important that that engagement and those regular meetings, in plenary and other forms, begins to take place again. That will, hopefully, happen in the very near future.”
“Tomorrow, I will meet the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, and I very much look forward to similar engagement with him.”
“It was really positive to have that engagement with the Irish Finance Minister. The investment by the Irish Government of €800 million is significant. For me, it very much demonstrates the power of joint working to deliver benefits for people across the island. It will make a significant contribution to the development of our economy and infrastructure, particularly in the north-west, where the A5 project is, and in border areas. It will also support the redevelopment of Casement Park and will create jobs, connect communities and unlock economic benefit. The investment includes funding for very positive things — tackling educational underachievement; female entrepreneurship — that we share a view on, North and South.”
“Obviously, a number of figures have been quoted in the media. Some of them would, from my perspective, be incredibly punitive on households and businesses. It will be for the Executive to decide what rate will be set, and I will have that discussion with Executive colleagues later this week. We have to get the balance right and be able to deliver high-quality public services without putting the burden on the hard-working workers, families and businesses who are already struggling with the costs of living and doing business.”
“LPS has been robustly implementing its debt recovery strategy, which aims to reduce rating debt year-on-year.”
“Approximately 40% of all rating debt prior to 31 March 2023 has been subject to legal proceedings. The Member will know that there were difficulties with legal proceedings during the pandemic.”
“Over £1·5 billion of rates have been collected in this financial year. That is the largest amount collected by Land and Property Services (LPS) in a rating year, and over £140 million more than last year. Rating debt has increased since 2020. The Member will not be surprised that a number of factors were responsible, including the COVID pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and the cost-of-doing-business crisis. <BR /> <BR />LPS proactively addresses rating debt through the rates billing, collection and recovery cycle. As at 4 February 2024, almost 11,000 ratepayers have an agreed payment plan and pay their rates over a longer period. Those people are reflected in the £174 million worth of debt. Legal debt recovery actions are taken by LPS for persistent non-payment and when ratepayers fail to engage with LPS on their rating debt.”
“I will be happy to engage with the Member further on that. I am familiar with the buildings that he talked about, as they are in my constituency. The Department of Finance's vision is to be able to move between different Departments' buildings so that we maximise the potential of the office space to which we have access and make best use of it. We also want to ensure that our office space is as carbon-friendly as it can be so that we contribute to our climate targets.”
“That issue has not come up with me yet. I will be happy to write to the Member with further details.”
“The Budget-setting process is ongoing. Departments were asked to come back to the Department of Finance by the end of February with their initial pressures for the incoming year. I will then embark on a one-to-one process of engagement with Ministers on the pressures facing their Department and their bids and priorities for the incoming financial year. It will then be for the Executive to decide the overall Budget.”
“We are about to embark on the Budget-setting process for 2024-25. As part of that, I will meet each Minister with responsibility. I will engage with the Justice Minister on her needs and those of her Department and the bodies in it. I am sure that she will make the case for what she requires to deliver services.”
“As I stated, there is a plan to reduce our footprint by 40%. That very much reflects not only the changing needs of the Civil Service but people's changing work patterns. The Member will be aware that a number of Connect2 hubs were established by the previous Finance Minister. There has been poor uptake of those. I want to understand the use of our office estate across the North and to look at how we can best use that footprint.”
“The Department is responsible for the management and strategic planning of the NICS office estate, which includes ensuring that the estate meets the changing needs of the Civil Service. In 2023, the Department of Finance commenced a programme of work to reduce the in-scope office estate footprint by about 40% over the next five years. That will help to reduce the Department's carbon footprint and support the journey towards decarbonisation. The Department of Finance exited 12 owned and leased buildings during 2023-24 and plans to exit a number of leased buildings at the earliest opportunity. The Member is probably aware that a number of significant sites are for sale, including Netherleigh House, Clarence Court and Victoria Hall.”
“I thank the Member for that question. As I have stated, I am awaiting clarity from the Treasury about what exactly has been repackaged. We understand from officials that there are a number of funding streams. Fresh Start is one, and there are things that the British Government is responsible for, like the Levelling Up Fund and the new deal. <BR /> <BR />I will await clarity from the Treasury. I will raise it with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury tomorrow, making it clear that we need to have an understanding of it. It will then be for the Executive, as part of the Budget-setting process for 2024-25, to deal with bids from the other Ministers and to make decisions about how to allocate that funding.”
“I have already reflected in my responses that I am still waiting for clarity from Treasury about what money of that £708 million that is loosely earmarked for transformation has been repackaged. As I said, I share the concerns that the Education Minister outlined about those projects. The Executive did not sign up to this; we were very clear in the talks in Hillsborough that we understood that some money was being repackaged. We have yet to receive details of that. We will be left with picking up the tab and trying to deal with the outworkings of that.”
“I very much recognise the challenges that have faced all businesses, particularly small businesses. As I have said previously, I will consider the responses to the consultation on revenue raising and assess the findings of that exercise. I will look at a number of strategic areas of policy in the weighting system in the weeks ahead.”
“My Department has extended the small business rate relief scheme in legislation for the forthcoming financial year. That will automatically provide in the region of £20-million worth of assistance to 29,000 small businesses that benefit from a reduction of between 20% and 50% in their rates.”
“I have not made any ministerial direction to the permanent secretary. If the Member would like to write to me to ask for more detail, I will be happy to provide him with any information that he wishes.”
“The consultation process on measures to support Budget sustainability and raise additional revenue that my Department was directed to undertake by the Secretary of State cost £2,906·80. That included costs for newspaper advertising and a stakeholder engagement event on 9 November.”
“I am clear that our rating system should be fair, equitable and progressive, but it should be very much aligned to our economic vision. It should be about creating jobs and supporting businesses. It is important to note that what we are trying to achieve with our rating system is growing the tax base so that more businesses contribute to the rates revenue rather than putting more burden on individual businesses at the minute. <BR /> <BR />I am very much aware of the concerns that have been raised. I am also very aware of the importance of the manufacturing sector, as I have said, and I will carefully consider the consultation responses.”
“As I mentioned, we had over 1,400 consultation responses from various sectors. Obviously, the manufacturing sector will be represented in those. I am aware of the concerns that have been raised. I am also aware of the importance of that rates relief to the manufacturing sector, which is successful here. We have a thriving manufacturing sector, and I will carefully consider the responses to the consultation before taking any further steps.”
“The consultation opened on 7 November and concluded on 13 February. A total of 1,400 responses were received on domestic and non-domestic rating measures. My officials are analysing the responses with a view to providing me with the initial findings report in March.”
“The rates revenue-raising consultation was limited in the questions that were asked. However, I understand from officials that a considerable number of responses were received, some of which were lengthy and provided a lot of detailed information in relation to particular sectors. <BR /> <BR />There is a range of rates relief measures for domestic and non-domestic properties. Some are really important rate reliefs, for example, for people on lower incomes or people who have disabilities and have adaptations to their houses. Others may be a little outdated. We will look at the rates system as a whole, and I am keen to analyse the responses to the rates revenue-raising consultation.”
“The Department of Finance's rates revenue-raising consultation opened on 7 November and concluded on 13 February. As I have just said to Mr Aiken, 1,400 responses were received. My officials are analysing those with a view to providing me with an initial findings report in March. I am keen to understand what those who responded to the consultation had to say about the rates system. I will consider the analysis from officials in due course.”
“The consultations are at various stages. They were launched on different dates between October and early January this year, so the consultation periods also varied. There is a range of closing dates. Those that have closed relate to the overarching financial context, rates relief and hospital car parking charges. As the Member rightly reflected, I am keen to consider the outcome of those and the responses. Over 1,400 responses were submitted to the consultation on rates, and I am keen to understand what people had to say about rates.”
“On 20 September, the Secretary of State wrote to permanent secretaries, directing them to launch public consultations on measures to support budget sustainability by raising additional revenue. Those consultations were at various stages when the Executive returned, and it will now be for individual Ministers to consider the outcome of the consultations carried out by their Departments, should they wish to do so.”
“I received a letter from the Minister of Health asking for assistance in supporting hospices in any way possible. No specific bid for additional funding for hospices was made to the Department. Obviously, the Executive have now agreed the final allocations for the 2023-24 Budget. However, I have written to the Health Minister to say that, if the services are not considered affordable within the Department's baseline, I would encourage him to bid for additional funding. I am keen to discuss that position with the Health Minister when I have one-to-ones with each of my Executive colleagues in the 2024-25 Budget-setting process.”
“I have recently begun the process of setting the Budget for the Executive for the incoming financial year. As part of that, Departments have been invited to make bids for the available funding on the basis of their priorities and needs. It will then be for the Executive to decide how the funding is shared out among Departments and for individual Ministers to decide how to allocate funding in their Departments. I have written to the Health Minister to say that, if services are not considered affordable within the Department of Health baseline, I would encourage him to make a bid for the additional funding as part of the 2024-25 Budget exercise.”
“I very much appreciate the important role that hospices play in delivering specialist care to people with palliative and end-of-life care needs. I welcome the Health Minister's reinstatement of the £85,000 in funding to the Children's Hospice for this year, which had been withdrawn. I know that the Member has been raising the issue. I assure him that I am committed to working with the Health Minister to consider any proposals from the Department of Health to support the Children's Hospice.”