To ask the Minister of Finance how he plans to optimise the benefits of a three-year budget for Executive departments.

The Chancellor’s Spending Review, announced on 27th October 2021 set a three year envelope for the Executive’s Budget

My department has been engaging with other departments on the preparations necessary to ensure that a Budget can be agreed as expediently as possible.

A multi-year budget will allow departments to plan more effectively, allowing similar multi-year agreements to be put in place between departments and their service delivery partners as appropriate.

It is anticipated that a twelve week consultation period will allow the public to engage with the process, providing the Executive with important feedback on its priorities and the allocation of funding, ultimately shaping the final budget prior to securing Assembly agreement next year.