Oral Answers to Questions — Finance – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:15 pm on 16 September 2024.
Matthew O'Toole
Social Democratic and Labour Party
3:15,
16 September 2024
T1. Mr O'Toole asked the Minister of Finance, in light of the fact that there was a discussion about city deals with the Chancellor on Thursday, whether, in addition, the question of the funding of Casement Park was raised by her, the First Minister or the deputy First Minister and, if so, what she was told by the Chancellor of the exchequer, and, if it was not raised, why not. (AQT 521/22-27)
Caoimhe Archibald
Sinn Féin
Obviously, the issue of Casement Park has been raised on many, many occasions with the Chancellor and with all levels of the British Government. We had been told on a number of occasions that a decision was imminent, and it came on Friday evening after many, many months of dither and delay from the previous Tory Government, who effectively ran down the clock and left us in the position that we are now in.
Matthew O'Toole
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Minister, if I understand the answer that you have just given, the issue was not raised, because I think that you would have told me specifically if it had been raised at Thursday's meeting. If it was not raised at Thursday's meeting, were you or your officials made aware at any point before Thursday of the decision that the UK Government were going to announce on Friday? Could you confirm that the issue was not raised on Thursday?
Caoimhe Archibald
Sinn Féin
We took the opportunity to raise the need for investment in public services and capital infrastructure. At no point were my officials made aware that an announcement was being made on Friday evening.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
The Chancellor - also known as "Chancellor of the Exchequer" is responsible as a Minister for the treasury, and for the country's economy. For Example, the Chancellor set taxes and tax rates. The Chancellor is the only MP allowed to drink Alcohol in the House of Commons; s/he is permitted an alcoholic drink while delivering the budget.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
The political party system in the English-speaking world evolved in the 17th century, during the fight over the ascension of James the Second to the Throne. James was a Catholic and a Stuart. Those who argued for Parliamentary supremacy were called Whigs, after a Scottish word whiggamore, meaning "horse-driver," applied to Protestant rebels. It was meant as an insult.
They were opposed by Tories, from the Irish word toraidhe (literally, "pursuer," but commonly applied to highwaymen and cow thieves). It was used — obviously derisively — to refer to those who supported the Crown.
By the mid 1700s, the words Tory and Whig were commonly used to describe two political groupings. Tories supported the Church of England, the Crown, and the country gentry, while Whigs supported the rights of religious dissent and the rising industrial bourgeoisie. In the 19th century, Whigs became Liberals; Tories became Conservatives.
