Overview

This bill authorizes government spending in Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2024. Due to the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Assembly, the UK Parliament is assuming responsibility for approving the budget.

Description

The Northern Ireland Budget (No. 2) Bill sets out the spending limits for various Northern Ireland departments and public bodies for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. It specifies a total authorized resource amount of £27,403,514,000, broken down into £24,818,772,000 for current spending and £2,584,742,000 for capital projects. The bill details how these resources can be used, outlining specific limits for current and capital expenditure across various categories (departmental expenditure limits, annually managed expenditure, and non-budget expenditure). The bill also allows the Department of Finance to borrow up to £11,395,447,000 to fund these expenditures. The bill supersedes previous budget authorisations from the Northern Ireland Budget Act 2023. A schedule provides detailed estimates for each department, specifying authorized amounts, planned expenditure (broken down by category and purpose), and anticipated income sources.

Government Spending

The bill authorises a total spending of £27,403,514,000 for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2024. This includes £24,818,772,000 for current spending and £2,584,742,000 for capital spending. The Department of Finance is also authorized to borrow up to £11,395,447,000. The bill replaces existing authorisations totaling £17,404,266,000 (resources) and £14,154,737,000 (Consolidated Fund).

Groups Affected

The bill affects numerous groups:

• Northern Ireland Departments: Their funding and spending limits are directly set by the bill.
• Public Bodies: Various public bodies (e.g., Food Standards Agency, Northern Ireland Audit Office) receive funding and have their spending outlined.
• Public Sector Workers: The bill impacts employment conditions and compensation schemes.
• Service Users: The services provided by the funded bodies, ranging from healthcare to education, will be directly influenced.
• Taxpayers: The bill affects government borrowing and the overall taxation landscape of Northern Ireland.

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