Overview

This bill, the Northern Ireland Budget Bill 2019, authorizes the spending of public funds in Northern Ireland for the financial year ending 31 March 2020. It sets spending limits, allows borrowing, and ensures that the spending is legally compliant.

Description

The bill outlines the allocation of £5,306,684,000 from the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland for various government departments and bodies. This includes:

• Departmental Spending: Significant sums are allocated to departments such as Health (£1,848,671,000), Communities (£1,366,094,000), and Education (£765,642,000), among others, for their respective services and programs. Specific details of each department's allocations are provided in Schedule 1.
• Borrowing Power: The Department of Finance is authorized to borrow up to £2,653,342,000 to supplement the allocated funds, with repayment due by 31 March 2020.
• Resource Usage: The bill sets limits on the use of various resources (including accruing resources) for the specified year. Schedule 2 provides details on these limits.
• Legal Standing: The bill states that its authorizations and appropriations will have the same effect as if passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly. This is important due to the power-sharing situation in Northern Ireland.

Government Spending

The bill authorises a total of £5,306,684,000 in spending from the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2020. Additionally, it allows the Department of Finance to borrow a further £2,653,342,000, bringing the potential total spending to £7,950,026,000.

Groups Affected

The bill affects a wide range of groups in Northern Ireland:

• Government Departments: All Northern Ireland government departments receive funding allocations impacting their ability to deliver services.
• Public Sector Bodies: Various public sector bodies, including the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, and others, receive funding allocations to carry out their functions.
• Service Users: The public will directly experience the impact of the budget through changes in the level and quality of public services provided by different departments.
• Taxpayers: The bill ultimately impacts taxpayers as it determines how public funds are raised and spent.

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