Explanatory Memorandum

Budget (No 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

2006 No. 1916

Commentary on Provisions

13.Article 1: Title and commencement: Article 2: Interpretation

Article 3: Issue of sum out of the Consolidated Fund for the year ending 31st March 2007 and appropriation of that sum.

Paragraph (1) authorises the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland of the sum of £6,237,325,000 for 2006-07.

Paragraph (2) appropriates that sum for the purposes specified in column 1 of Schedule 1.

Article 4: Use of resources (other than accruing resources) in year ending 31st March 2007

This Article authorises the use of resources amounting to £7,082,792,000 for 2006-07 for the purposes specified in column 1 of Schedule 2.

Article 5: Limit on use of accruing resources in year ending 31st March 2007.

Paragraph (1) of this Article sets relevant limits on the total amount of accruing resources, including both operating and non-operating accruing resources that may be directed to be used for certain specified purposes as shown separately in the Estimates for 2006-07.

Article 6: Power of the Department of Finance and Personnel to borrow

This Article authorises the temporary borrowing by the Department of Finance and Personnel of approximately half the sum covered by Article 3 (1). This is a normal safeguard against the possibility of a temporary deficiency arising in the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund.

Article 7: Resource excess for year ending 31st March 2005

This Article, which relates to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Superannuation Estimate authorises the use of resources amounting to £32,164,692.48 for 2004-05 and increases the relevant limit on accruing resources by £12,148,511.50 in that year for the purposes specified in its’ Request for Resources A (as set out in column 1 of Schedule 2).

Article 8: Cash excess for year ending 31st March 2005.

This Article, which relates to the Department of Finance and Personnel Superannuation Estimate authorises the issue of a sum from the Consolidated Fund amounting to £6,978,347.96 for 2004-05 for expenditure on pensions, lump sums and gratuities to or in respect of persons covered by the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, civil pensions and gratuities.

14.Article 9: Repeal of Spent Enactments

This article removes from the statute book two Budget Orders which are no longer operative.