NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph
Historical abuse inquiry could be axed because of spending row at Stormont, says Peter Robinson
BY LIAM CLARKE – 19 JULY 2014
A state inquiry into historic institutional abuse in Northern Ireland is under threat because of a stand-off at Stormont over spending, the First Minister has warned.
Peter Robinson said there would be “catastrophic” consequences if he and Martin McGuinness cannot agree a series of emergency cuts early next week.
They are needed because our budget has been reduced by London to reflect the fact that we are now overspending on welfare payments compared to England and Wales.
Things came to a head in the June monitoring round, a review of budgets in which cuts must be made in spending budgets. Some £80m in capital spending must also be allocated or else handed back to the treasury.
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