DUP Warns Of PM's Muddled Cash Pledge

There has been a warning at the highest political levels that the Westminster Government may not be fully committed to Northern Ireland's multi-million pound capital budget allocation.

The DUP Deputy Leader, Nigel Dodds has expressed his dissatisfaction at the failure of the Prime Minister, David Cameron, (pictured) to answer a simple question concerning the cash commitments made in the St. Andrews Agreement concerning the Northern Ireland capital budget allocation.

During Prime Minister's Question Time yesterday, the former Stormont Finance Minister asked the PM if he would honour the pledge made by the previous (Labour) administration and warned that the response by the Prime Minister made reference to the NI Justice budget and the long-running Presbyterian Mutual Society (PMS) situation but passed no comment on the capital budget.

Earlier this week, the First and Deputy First Ministers had also called on Prime Minister David Cameron to deliver a £18bn pledge which they said was made to Northern Ireland after the 2006 St Andrews agreement.

Now, speaking after Prime Minister’s Questions, the DUP Deputy Leader said: "David Cameron's singular refusal to answer a simple question is unsatisfactory.

"People are entitled to know just what plans the Tory/Lib Dem coalition has for Northern Ireland's vital capital budget allocation.

"Cutting the budget by some 50% as has been indicated by briefings and hints by the Government, not only runs contrary to an internationally binding agreement but would have a devastating effect upon Northern Ireland and serve to plunge us in to a double-dip recession," he fumed.

"Throughout the construction industry in Northern Ireland alarms bells will be ringing because of David Cameron's singular failure to confirm that his Government will be living up to its obligations under the St. Andrews Agreement.

"It is becoming ever more apparent that the Tories have the knives sharpened for Northern Ireland," he warned.

Meanwhile, savers with the £300m Presbyterian Mutual Society that went into administration in 2008, after what the Treasury Select Committee called "a fatal gap in regulation" have been desperate to get access to their savings ever since.

In the Commons yesterday, William McCrea MP said that many small PMS savers "are at wits' end corner" and challenged Mr Cameron on when the crisis will be concluded.

Mr Cameron responded: "I know that the Hon gentleman knows how difficult this issue with the PMS is. Achieving a fair resolution is not easy.

"I believe that we will have it done by the announcement of the spending review on 20 October. That is our goal. An announcement will be made, and he will be able to explain to his constituents what we are going to do."

(BMcC/GK)