NI Assembly to vote on final budget

Northern Ireland Assembly members will today vote on Stormont Finance Minister Peter Robinson's final budget.

Northern Ireland Assembly members will today vote on Stormont Finance Minister Peter Robinson's final budget.

The SDLP, which has one minister on the executive, surprised other parties at Stormont last night by voting in the Assembly against the Executive's programme for government and investment strategy.

In the wake of last night's vote SDLP sources indicated they were also likely to vote against the budget.

However the SDLP's sole Executive minister, Margaret Ritchie, will vote with Democratic Unionist, Sinn Féin and Ulster Unionist cabinet colleagues as she did in last night's vote.

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An SDLP source said: "We have a number of concerns about the budget. These range from the water reform plans, the lack of any reference to and costings for post-primary education reform, the reliance of the budget on efficiency targets and assets sales, the lack of a children's fund and the state of the health budget.

"In no way is the vote a snub to Margaret. Nor do we have any intention of pulling out of the executive," the source added.

Mr Robinson last week allocated £205 million in extra funds to Ms Ritchie to help her meet her three-year target for new social and affordable housing.

PA