The Northern Ireland Budget (Anticipation and Adjustments) Bill 2017-19 was introduced into the House of Commons on Tuesday 20 March 2018. The text of the Bill and Explanatory Notes are provided on the Bill pages on the Parliamentary website.
The Government’s intention is for all stages of the Bill to be taken on 20 March, subject to a Business of the House motion to be debated on 20 March. This 'fast-tracking' of the legislation is regarded as necessary because the Government had deferred legislation “as long as possible”, in the hope that a restored Northern Ireland Executive would be able to take decisions on the Northern Ireland budget for 2018-19.
The Bill provides for a similar procedure to the supplementary estimates presented annually to Parliament. It seeks Parliamentary approval for in-year adjustments to Northern Ireland Assembly budgets. It also seeks Parliamentary approval for a vote on account for 45% of the expenditure anticipated for 2018-19. However, it does not constitute the setting of a budget for the Northern Ireland Assembly.