Overview

This bill, the Northern Ireland Budget Bill 2019, authorizes the spending of public funds in Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2020. It sets out the amount to be issued from the Consolidated Fund, allows borrowing, and details how resources will be used across various government departments and bodies.

Description

The bill authorizes the issuance of £5,306,684,000 from the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund for the 2019-2020 financial year. This sum is allocated to various Northern Ireland departments and public bodies as detailed in Schedule 1. Schedule 1 lists specific funding for numerous government programs and departments such as agriculture, communities, economy, education, health, infrastructure and justice. The Department of Finance is also authorized to borrow up to £2,653,342,000 against this appropriation, repayable by 31 March 2020. The bill further authorizes the use of additional resources (other than accruing resources) up to £6,041,303,000, as outlined in Schedule 2. Schedule 2 provides more detail on the permitted use of resources and accruing resources by different government departments and other bodies. Finally, the bill ensures that the spending authorizations function as if they were passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Government Spending

The bill authorizes a total of £5,306,684,000 to be spent from the Consolidated Fund and allows for an additional £2,653,342,000 to be borrowed. Furthermore, it enables the use of £6,041,303,000 in other resources, bringing the total potential spending to approximately £13,961,026,000.

Groups Affected

• Northern Ireland Government Departments: Significant impact; the bill dictates their funding levels and spending limits for the year.
• Public Bodies: Including the Food Standards Agency, Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, Audit Office, Utility Regulation Authority, Public Services Ombudsman, and the Public Prosecution Service; their funding and operations are directly affected.
• Citizens of Northern Ireland: Indirect impact; funding allocations affect the provision of public services like healthcare, education, social welfare, and infrastructure.
• Businesses in Northern Ireland: Indirect impact through government support schemes and regulatory changes detailed in the bill.

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