AQW 14399/17-22 Written question to the Minister of Finance
To ask the Minister of Finance to detail his legislative programme for the remainder of this Assembly Mandate.
Asked by Stewart Dickson MLA on 10 February 2021
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 10 February 2021
- Answer due by
- 25 February 2021
- Answered
- 26 February 202116 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Finance
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Please see table at Annex A for details of the legislation my department plans to advance in the current mandate.
ANNEX A
Primary Legislation
| Title | Purpose | Status |
| Budget Bill 2021 | Budget | Written evidence to the Finance Committee on 17th February followed by oral evidence on 24th February. The intention is to take the Budget Bill through using accelerated passage. The Budget Bill is planned to be taken through the Assembly on the following dates: 1st March - Supply Resolution and Budget Bill Stage 1 2nd March – Budget Bill Stage 2 Consideration 8th March – Consideration Stage 9th March – Further Consideration Stage & Final Stage Royal Assent is required by 24th March. |
| Budget (No. 2) Bill 2021 | Budget | Anticipated May/June 2021 |
| Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) | Necessary to implement the Review of Financial Process. | Working with the Office for Legislative Counsel (OLC) the draft bill is complete and a draft Explanatory and Financial Memorandum is with OLC for review. The Bill is now named the Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Bill (Northern Ireland). Whilst the precise timing will depend on the conclusion of the discussions currently ongoing with HMT, and planned engagement with OLC and DSO, it is anticipated that the Bill will be introduced after Easter recess. |
In addition, work is being taken forward on social value in procurement, a fiscal council, and public bodies’ reform. Legislation on these issues will follow once the policies are in place.
Westminster Bills requiring LCMs
| Title | Purpose | Status |
| Public Service Pensions Bill | To remove unlawful age discrimination identified in NI public service pension schemes as a consequence of the ‘McCloud ruling’ | Subject to Executive agreement |
Statutory Rules (subject to Affirmative / Draft Affirmative)
| Title | Purpose | Status |
| The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (DoF) | To reduce the statutory fees that are charged when data is entered onto the domestic and non-domestic register for Energy Performance Certificates, Display Energy Certificate and Air Conditioning Inspection Reports | Draft documents - SR, SL1, Explanatory Note and Motion for Debate have been prepared for the DoF Minister’s consideration. |
| The Official Statistics (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 | The Statutory Rule will amend the Official Statistics Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 by naming additional bodies as producers of official statistics. | Draft being prepared |
| The Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (DOF) | To set the regional rate for the upcoming rating year | SL1 and draft being prepared |
| The Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (DOF) | To extend rate relief to ATMs in rural areas | SL1 approved by Committee |
| The Land Registry (Fees) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (DOF) | To update the fees to enable Land Registry to generate income sufficient to meet its operating expenses under Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970. | SL1 and draft SR being prepared. |
Statutory Rules (subject to Negative Resolution)
| Title | Purpose | Status |
| The Pensions Increase (Review) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 | Routine uprating wef 12 April 2021 of pensions in payment (and deferred pensions) for public service pensioners with reference to the annual change in CPI (0.5%) | Draft being prepared |
| The Public Service Pensions Revaluation Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 | Routine revaluation of in – year pension accruals by active members of CARE (Career average) public service pension schemes for the scheme year ending 31 March 2021, with reference to annual change in CPI (0.5%) or average weekly earnings (2.4%) | Draft being prepared |
| The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 | To designate bodies in Northern Ireland to provide information for Whole of Government Accounts (WGA). | Draft being prepared |
| The Building (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 | Amendment of Building Regulations in relation to Fire Safety and Radon Issues. Amendment of Building Regulations in relation to transposition of Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD 3) requirements. | Public Consultation on Fire Safety and Radon issues finished in October 2020. The Department’s Building Standards Branch (BSB) has completed an analysis of the consultation responses and given evidence to the Finance Committee. Final proposals are to be considered by the local Building Regulations Advisory Committee (NIBRAC) and the Department hopes to bring forward a Building Regulations amendment (Statutory Rule) and changes to supporting guidance in the relevant Technical Booklets in the near future. It is anticipated that this amendment will not be drafted until the next Assembly mandate. |
| The Rates (Small Business Hereditament Relief) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 | To extend the small business relief scheme which provides support to local small businesses | SL1 and draft SR being prepared. |
| The Rates (Coronavirus) (Emergency Relief) (No. 3) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 | To extend rate relief support to those sectors most affected by the pandemic | Not yet drafted. |