This evening Andrew asked the Northern Ireland Secretary for the Government's forward plan for the budget in Stormont in the midst of ongoing political instability in the region.
Andrew said:
'The head of the Northern Ireland civil service said to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on 24 January: “It will be incredibly difficult for us if we do not have budget certainty by 8 February.” It is now 20 February. What will the Secretary of State now do to set a budget and therefore the political direction that Northern Ireland so needs?'
The Secretary of State replied: I' thank the Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. As I said in my statement, I am now working to ensure that we get certainty for civil servants in Northern Ireland—those dedicated public servants—and I will return to the House when I have further information.'