Northern Ireland Budget Bill: HL Bill 94 of 2022–23

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.