Speaking from the all-party talks at Royal Hillsborough, Ulster Unionist Finance spokesperson Dr. Steve Aiken OBE MLA said, “Ulster Unionists welcome the Secretary of State’s announcement of a financial package for Northern Ireland.

“Northern Ireland needs Stormont back as soon as possible to deal with the many urgent problems facing the public sector and other vital services. A properly funded, multi-year financial package is fundamental to good government. We have consistently called for the restoration of Stormont and ask that other parties join with us to make that happen.

“We are attending the multi-party negotiations with HMG today in Royal Hillsborough working to restore government but determined to ensure a financial settlement that doesn’t just solve the immediate crisis but provides for continued stable government through an appropriate ‘Fiscal Floor’, backdated to 2022, a write-off of the Reserve Claim, adequate Stabilisation and Transformation funds to deliver lasting change and much deserved public sector pay rises

‘’While the NIO is asking that the Executive deliver revenue raising, we shall be asking that Northern Ireland be given a lower Corporation Tax rate to compensate for the additional costs of Policing & Justice, the Protocol/Windsor Framework and to encourage business growth, jobs and prosperity.’’