Advice, information and consultation
- Northern Ireland departments operate under the direction and control of their Ministers, and in the absence of those Ministers, the Government considers it necessary to make provision for the Secretary of State to request advice and information on developing options for a sustainable approach to public finances, including revenue raising.
- The Act therefore provides that the Secretary of State may direct Northern Ireland departments to provide advice and information, and to carry out consultations, for the purpose of developing options for raising more public revenue in Northern Ireland or otherwise improving the sustainability of public finances in Northern Ireland. These powers will expire on the formation of a Northern Ireland Executive.
- Consistent with the approach taken to other advice to Ministers, the Act does not provide for a direction for the provision of advice or information given to a Northern Ireland Department by the Secretary of State to be published or for public notification to be given.
