Budget 2011 – 2015

Part of Ministerial Statement – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 11:15 am on 4 March 2011.

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Photo of Sammy Wilson Sammy Wilson Shadow Spokesperson (Education), Shadow DUP Spokesperson (Treasury) 11:15, 4 March 2011

The settlement here now represents the most generous settlement of any part of the United Kingdom. In England, there is now a real reduction in health spending. In Wales, there is a 2·4% reduction in health spending. In Scotland — do not forget Scotland has only a one-year Budget, so we do not know what is coming in years two, three and four — there is a 0·05% uplift in spending. In Northern Ireland, we have given an uplift of, I think, 0·01% in real terms in health spending. So, in comparison with other parts of the United Kingdom, health has done better in Northern Ireland than it has done in either Scotland, England or Wales. Do not forget that, in Northern Ireland, we have not imposed 5% efficiency savings on the Health Service, which, of course, the Health Service in England has been required to find.