Sleight of hand in policing and justice financial package
22 October 2009
TUV Leader Jim Allister has warned that aspects of the financial proposal on policing and justice are not all they seem. “There is sleight of hand at work here”, warned Mr Allister.
In a statement Mr Allister said, “When you strip away all the spin there is something of a con being perfected on the Northern Ireland public. Much is made of the available access to “the reserve” (funds from the Treasury), but it is not revealed that money drawn down from the reserve has to be repaid! Thus when the PM promises the Northern Ireland Executive will have access to the reserve to meet any exceptional security pressures relating to policing and justice, he is only saying the Treasury will lend the money, but it will have to be repaid. How, by cutting back on other vital services, like education and health in the event of essential high spending to counter intensified terrorism.
“Likewise, the undertaking on Legal Aid is only till 2012/13, thereafter any extra money drawn down from the reserve will have to be repaid.
“Furthermore, any extra money required from the reserve on hearing loss claims will have to be repaid. Additionally, NI itself is funding the hearing loss claims by selling assets to HMG. Further, there is no new money to deal with the police pensions issues.
“So, far from being a good deal, this will turnout to be a millstone round the neck of Northern Ireland for years to come. It is packaged as generous, but when you strip it out and ask how much new money is here, the answer is very little. A Justice budget built on borrowings, is a budget built on sand.
I urge journalists to press DFP, OFMDFM and the Treasury on the fact that money from the reserve will have to be repaid and thus does not amount to extra money.”
