In the absence of functioning devolved institutions the UK government has intervened to set Northern Ireland’s budget. The Northern Ireland Budget Bill provides the relevant authorisations and appropriations for the full 2022/23 financial year and includes provisions to allow public spending to continue into the early months of the 2023/24 financial year. The bill passed has been fast-tracked through the House of Commons and its second reading in the House of Lords is due to take place on 7 February 2022.
Northern Ireland Budget Bill: HL Bill 94 of 2022–23 (279KB PDF)
On 7 February 2023, the second reading and remaining stages of the Northern Ireland Budget Bill 2022–23 are scheduled to take place in the House of Lords.
In the absence of functioning devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, this bill makes provision for the Northern Ireland budget for the financial year ending 31 March 2023. Provisions in the Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and emergency powers utilised by the permanent secretary of the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland are currently funding public services in Northern Ireland. However, these provide access to cash and resources up to a limit of 95% of the previous year’s funding envelope only. With these funds due to be exhausted, and no budget bill forthcoming from the Northern Ireland Assembly, it has fallen to the UK Parliament to legislate to provide authority for public expenditure in Northern Ireland and to set a budget for the full 2022/23 financial year
The bill was introduced to the House of Commons on 12 January 2023. On 23 January 2023 an allocation of time motion was made and the bill passed all remaining stages in the Commons that same day.
The bill is being fast-tracked to ensure the continued funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland.
The bill has been designated as a ‘money bill’ and therefore the House of Lords may not amend it. Although the Lords will debate the bill at second reading, later stages will go through formally without debate.
Northern Ireland Budget Bill: HL Bill 94 of 2022–23 (279KB PDF)
The Sovereign Grant Bill is a government bill which would amend how the sovereign grant is set. This is a grant paid to the King to support the work of the sovereign. The bill would enable the size of the sovereign grant to be reduced following the completion of a 10-year works project on Buckingham Palace. The bill received cross-party support and was not amended in the House of Commons.
The Financial Services and Markets Bill [HL] is a wide-ranging bill that aims to reform the way the UK financial services sector is regulated. This briefing provides a summary of the bill’s second reading and committee stage in the House of Lords ahead of its further consideration at report.
![Financial Services and Markets Bill [HL]: Progress in the Lords](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Economy-568x426.png)
The Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill is a money bill that would implement three tax measures as part of the government’s package of support to tackle increased energy prices. The bill would increase the electricity generator levy, increase the rate of tax-free mileage allowance for employees, and provide a 12-month vehicle excise duty exemption for HGVs.
