Speeches by Benn.

“We, mercifully, did not face that because we took the decision that we did.”

“No, but it is not a precipice over which I would advise anyone to peer.”

“I really hope that that is not going to prove the case, because, I repeat, it is the responsibility of the Executive to set a Budget. It is. They can set a budget, as they did last year, and then end up overspending, which resulted in them coming to us and asking, “Can you help us out?” Eventually, the Government agree…”

“Thank you very much for inviting us to come in and talk about this. I have had a number of discussions with the Finance Minister in April and May. I talked to the party leaders on 11 June about the Budget. We convened all-party talks, as I think the Committee is aware—indeed, one of your members was present there—on 2 …”

“That depends on what the work that is now being undertaken shows. We showed our willingness to provide support last year with the £400 million reserve claim. That came with some conditions, but then I look back. The £3.3 billion that was given when the Executive were restored also came with conditions, not all of which…”

“I would very much like to be able to do this as soon as possible. We are still in the process of establishing the facts about the nature of the likely overspend for the year. It seems to me that that is an obvious and essential first step—what is the real figure?—given the experience last year where it was £800 million…”

“The parties will have to speak for themselves. It is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive to produce a Budget. That is part of their job. The Finance Minister published a draft three-year Budget at the start of the year. One thing the Government have done to try to help was to agree a spending review ov…”

“The open book process was an attempt to do it. It was done in a limited period of time. It provided some valuable and useful information. Different people have different views about it. There is no reason why the Executive should not have done their own open book process before. There is no reason why the Executive sho…”

“There is buy-in to the process that we initiated through convening the all-party talks. There was clearly buy-in to that. Whether there is buy-in to setting a Budget is a question you would have to ask the Northern Ireland Executive.”

“Although I am naturally optimistic, I would hope that the answers I have given to the Select Committee this morning are based on realism, and that includes realism about who is responsible for what. If you come into Government, you take on responsibilities. If you are running an Administration or a Government—and that …”

“I put the question back, and it is a very fair question to ask. Why would the Executive not be willing to collectively step up to their responsibilities? Why?”

“Why not?”

“I know you would not invite me to just echo the quote of the Treasury. The Treasury’s position is very clear. The Government’s position is very clear. It is set out in the words that you read out.”

“Thank you for the question, because you have given me the chance to say that being in compulsory coalition with parties with whom you are in really quite fundamental disagreement is really hard. It is really hard. If we were to contemplate for a moment a compulsory coalition where we were all told, “For the good of the…”

“I hope that I get marks for consistency.”

“Could you just say the last bit again?”

“I accept entirely that it is hard. The question is how we avoid this happening, where the Northern Ireland Executive says to the Government, “We would really like to address these things. We cannot do it this year. Can you give us some money for this year and we will try to address it next year?” If we are honest about…”

“Yes, indeed.”

“In the absence of setting a budget, it falls to the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Finance to say, “We can spend up to 45% of last year”, which comes to an end at the end of this month. My understanding is that he has already given an indication of what he will then do. Then you move on to the 95% for the res…”

“Originally, the condition was over one year. The Executive came back and said, “Could we do it over two years?” The Government agreed to let them do it over two.”