He was speaking after questioning the NIO Minister Fleur Anderson at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in Westminster.
He said, “In opposition the Labour Party were critical of the then Government for using stabilisation funding to plug gaps in public sector pay here. However, the situation is no different under the Labour Government, and the increase in employers National Insurance contributions have made the situation more difficult. The additional payments are set to cost public bodies here hundreds of millions of pounds extra; something that was not factored into budget allocated to the Executive.
There appears to be an attitude within the Government that somehow additional allocations have made the situation here more comfortable. Whilst there has been some uplift in the budget, that has been matched by additional pressures. This needs to be recognised by the Government if all parts of the United Kingdom are to be treated fairly, and citizens across all parts able to benefit from the same level of public services.”