Speeches by Swann.

“Secretary of State, you went down a list of things there and said, “No, no, no”, if the Executive say no to all these steps. Do you step in at that point if they continue to say no?”

“Thank you, Sir Robert. I recall one specific piece of work that you, the Fiscal Council, did looking at the health budget. In an earlier comment you mentioned that the Department of Health is working round its current budget in year 3, as was. Health is doing something and other Departments not quite so much. Why do yo…”

“In answer to Mr Jogee, you referred to the progress of the current talks in regards to engagement. Considering that 45%, 60%, 95% timeline, have you a timeline in mind for bringing those talks to a close, where you think the parties have played out their bit?”

“You have convened talks to try to find that out. Sir Robert Chote used the phrase “TACO” in an earlier session, because the Treasury always chickens out. We are looking at the mouth of an election in Northern Ireland. The political will or the political step may not be there to agree a Budget among the political partie…”

“You said in a previous comment that Northern Ireland is funded at need. In regard to the current talks process and the current engagements, are you considering a further funding package for Northern Ireland, as the Executive has been calling for, to support Budget agreement? If so, are you considering any conditions to…”

“This is a phrase you used earlier on. All those reports talked about a recurrent Budget and the golden egg of the three-year budget. Sir Robert, in an earlier comment you seemed to indicate that you thought that the Executive, if they agreed a Budget, would not be fit to get to a three-year Budget. That was an inferenc…”

“In regards to the work that has been done, you mentioned Treasury. What is your assessment of the accuracy of the figures that were calculated by the Treasury in its recent open book exercise? It seemed to me quite a thin document.”

“Thank you, Secretary of State, for attending. You said that all Governments have to make choices. What if they do not, on this occasion, in this timeframe? Do you see a circumstance this year where you would have to step in and set a Budget for Northern Ireland?”

“The thing is, “But if they don’t”. The 45%, 60% and 95% steps of spend are of last year’s spend and each Department hits those thresholds at different points of its year. If the Executive are not collectively willing to step up at that point, what action would you take?”

“I thank the hon. Member for raising that point, because we do share a land border with another jurisdiction. In the Republic of Ireland, hospitality businesses already benefit from a significantly lower VAT rate of 13.5%, but the Irish Government have gone further by moving towards a 9% rate for food-led hospitality, a…”

“I agree with the hon. Member. That is why many representative organisations think that VAT reduction would be a key enabler. It would not solve all those problems, but it would definitely help. With regard to the cross-border imbalance, a family deciding where to spend their money, a couple booking a wedding reception,…”

“I agreed with the hon. Member until his last point. The McKeever group owns the hotel in which he was married. I had my wedding reception at the group’s Dunsilly hotel, and it is just celebrating the 40th anniversary—[Interruption.] Of the hotel, not my marriage, just to be clear to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim …”

“In regards to the work that has been done, you mentioned Treasury. What is your assessment of the accuracy of the figures that were calculated by the Treasury in its recent open book exercise? It seemed to me quite a thin document.”

“Thank you, Secretary of State, for attending. You said that all Governments have to make choices. What if they do not, on this occasion, in this timeframe? Do you see a circumstance this year where you would have to step in and set a Budget for Northern Ireland?”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered the potential merits of a VAT reduction pilot for hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Murrison. I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of a pilot scheme to reduce VAT for the hospitality and food sectors i…”

“Sir Robert, to clarify that point about the 45%, 60% and 95%, that is of the baseline. That does not include Barnett consequentials or in-year monitoring that goes to Departments. Theoretically, some Departments could reach their financial cliff edge earlier than others. Would that be correct?”

“Thank you, Sir Robert. I recall one specific piece of work that you, the Fiscal Council, did looking at the health budget. In an earlier comment you mentioned that the Department of Health is working round its current budget in year 3, as was. Health is doing something and other Departments not quite so much. Why do yo…”

“This is a phrase you used earlier on. All those reports talked about a recurrent Budget and the golden egg of the three-year budget. Sir Robert, in an earlier comment you seemed to indicate that you thought that the Executive, if they agreed a Budget, would not be fit to get to a three-year Budget. That was an inferenc…”

“They have not had to, or they have not at the moment.”

“The thing is, “But if they don’t”. The 45%, 60% and 95% steps of spend are of last year’s spend and each Department hits those thresholds at different points of its year. If the Executive are not collectively willing to step up at that point, what action would you take?”