Question
Allocation of the Barnett consequential and whether PSNI have ever benefited from Barnett consequentials from other depts in the past.
Answer
- The Barnett Formula operated by the Treasury, is a mechanism to automatically adjust the amount of funding allocated to Northern Ireland based on public spending levels elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
- For example, a rise in public spending on Health in England would lead to a proportionate increase in the total funding allocated to Northern Ireland.
- However, decisions on how the total funding is allocated within Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved Assembly.
- As a result of how funding is allocated by the devolved Assembly, it is not possible to directly link Barnett consequential changes in total funding to specific funding allocations to the PSNI.
- By way of illustration, it is possible that a significant increase in public spending on Health in England could lead to an increase in the NI Block allocation. In the same period, the Assembly could allocate either less or more funding to PSNI, as there is no direct link.
The empirical evidence since 2010 is that the budget for the PSNI has been frozen, despite significant growth in the NI Block, and has not even benefited from increased spending on Policing in England, let alone from other areas of public spending.
Mike Nesbitt - UUP