The SDLP Opposition is calling on the Executive and Finance Minister to provide urgent clarity on how much money it is being promised to deal with the cost of increased employers’ national insurance contributions for councils and the wider public sector.
Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA said it was unacceptable to ask ratepayers to fork out more in both the regional and district rate while the Executive refuses to confirm how much finance is actually required and how much they expect to receive from the Treasury through a Barnett consequential from support provided to public authorities in England.
The SDLP has also submitted priority questions to Treasury ministers to seek urgent clarity after the new Sinn Féin Finance Minister announced over £17m additional Barnett consequential spending had been provided by the UK Government, but failed to specify how the money had arisen or allocate any of it to deal with the cost of national insurance rises.
The Leader of the Opposition called on the Executive to end weeks of vague statements and contradiction over the quantum of money required and received to pay for additional nationals insurance costs.
This is especially urgent as councils have been asked to strike rates increases to cover the costs of increased national insurance contributions while ratepayers are in the dark about the amount being provided.
South Belfast MLA Matthew O’Toole said:
"It is clear that the increase in employer national insurance is an additional burden for the Executive and wider public sector, including councils.
“But it is totally unacceptable that the Executive is effectively asking ratepayers to blindly cough up cash without providing any detail on how much they actually need to cover these costs and how much the UK Government is providing.
“This cloak and dagger approach only invites suspicion, especially as the Finance Minister has consistently refused to provide any clarity but last week allocated funding for damages relating to Storm Éowyn and other pressures that appears to have been found down the back of the proverbial sofa.”
SDLP councillor Carl Whyte proposed that Belfast City Council defer the rate-setting process until the Executive provided clarity.
Councillors agreed to revisit the issue if funding was provided before the rates deadline of February 15.
Councillor Whyte said:
“Either the Executive gives councils the money they’ve been given to cover council national insurance increases, or they force councils to make ratepayers - families and businesses - cover the multi-million-pound bill. The choice is simple.”