Dodds speaks of useful engagement at Finance Minsters' meeting

Finance Minister Nigel Dodds has described as useful a meeting with his Scottish and Welsh counterparts and the Chief Secretary of the Treasury.

The Minister was speaking after emerging from the meeting in Edinburgh.

Mr Dodds said:  “This meeting was a valuable opportunity for us to discuss how we can work together across the UK to respond collectively to the economic downturn.

“The challenges we are facing in Northern Ireland are similar to those across the UK and beyond and we can learn from each other on how best to help our economies through the recession.”

The Minister also revealed that he had impressed upon the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Yvette Cooper, the impact the Chancellor’s proposed efficiency cuts would have on the Executive’s budget.

Mr Dodds continued:  “I made very clear to Yvette Cooper that I do not regard these as efficiency savings.  Efficiency savings would allow us to reinvest money into front line services locally.

“This proposal is about taking money away from Northern Ireland and I left the Chief Secretary in no doubt that I feel this is unfair and constitutes a material change to our agreed budgetary position.

“I am committed to finding efficiencies across the Northern Ireland public sector to ensure savings are re-invested in front line services – a more efficient public sector is in the best interests of local people.

“Indeed, we are already delivering 3% efficiency savings each year across Government Departments and have set up the Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit to work with Departments and Agencies to help improve delivery on the ground.

“I made Yvette Cooper aware that I believe imposing cuts on our budget at a time when the Executive is working hard to help local businesses and local people through a recession is unacceptable”.

Notes to Editors:

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