Oral Answers to Questions — Finance – in the Northern Ireland Assembly am 2:30 pm ar 7 Mai 2024.
John Blair
Alliance
2:30,
7 Mai 2024
T7. Mr Blair asked the Minister of Finance to state how the remaining allocation of financial transactions capital (FTC) will be used, given that under half of it is yet to be allocated for 2024-25. (AQT 257/22-27)
Caoimhe Archibald
Sinn Féin
Obviously, Departments will have an opportunity to bid in year for additional money, including financial transactions capital, and I encourage Departments to come forward with bids for financial transactions capital. It is an area where we sometimes face challenges in spending, and obviously we want to see full utilisation of the money that is available to us.
John Blair
Alliance
I thank the Minister for her answer. Does she have plans to improve the strategy for spending FTC, given the underspends that have occurred in previous years?
Caoimhe Archibald
Sinn Féin
I am certainly keen to look at that, but you will be aware of some of the restrictions around the use of financial transactions capital. Therefore, we are dependent on Departments coming forward with their ideas for what they would like to spend it on and working with other organisations on being able to do that. I am certainly happy to look at that.
Carál Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin
We have one minute left. Go for it.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
