Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Given the focus on childcare during the last Assembly election and the promises which were made, I am sure I will not alone in being taken aback at the revelation that less than half of the money Stormont received as a result of the Barnett consequential allocation in relation to childcare provision in England and Wales is actually being spent on child care.
“In response to my written question, the Finance Minister has said that the Executive received £57.2 million of Barnett consequentials for 2024-25, following the announcement in the Spring Budget of the expansion of the 30 free hours of childcare scheme in England.
“However, Stormont’s 2024-25 Budget provides just £25m to support the development of a Childcare Strategy. This means that more than £32 million from our share of money which should have gone to childcare is not committed to the issue.
“Does this decision really speak to a local administration which is in tune with the needs of ordinary working families?”
Note to editors
Mr Allister’s question and the Minister’s response were as follows:
AQW 11019/22-27
Jim Allister has asked:
To ask the Minister of Finance to detail the 2024-25 Barnett consequential allocation in
relation to childcare provision in England and Wales.
ANSWER
The Executive received £57.2 million of Barnett consequentials for 2024-25, following the announcement in the Spring Budget of the expansion of the 30 free hours of childcare scheme in England.
Barnett consequentials are unhypothecated, meaning they do not have to be used for the purposes for which they were issued, but rather allocated in line with the Executive’s priorities.
The 2024-25 Budget provided £25m to support the development of a Childcare
Strategy. The Executive may increase the funding for this in-year when proposals are
brought forward by the cross-departmental task and finish group established by the
Education Minister to take forward the development of this.