Finance Minister, Conor Murphy met the Chief Secretary today in London ahead of the upcoming Spending Review which will set the Executiveб‚Т€Т™s budget envelope for the next three years.

Minister Murphy was joined by his fellow Finance Ministers from Scotland and Wales for the first in person meeting since the new Chief Secretary was appointed in September. With just under two weeks until the Spending Review, the expected outcome for devolved budgets was high on the agenda.аЂТ 

Speaking following the meeting, Minister Murphy:аЂТ б‚Т€ТœTodayб‚Т€Т™sаЂТ meeting with the Chief Secretary provided a timely opportunity toаЂТ expressаЂТ theаЂТ needаЂТ for a good outcome to the Spending Review. Covid has had a profound impact right across society, no more so than on our health service which is under immense pressure with unprecedented waiting lists.аЂТ  Now is the time for significant investmentаЂТ to rebuild public services, spur economic recovery, and make the transition to net zero.

б‚Т€ТœThe introduction of a multi-year budget is to be welcomed, howeverаЂТ the benefits itаЂТ canаЂТ bring in terms of enabling better planning of resources will only beаЂТ fullyаЂТ realised with sustainable financing for Devolved Administrations.б‚Т€Т

During his visit to London, Minister Murphy also metаЂТ with Lord Agnew,аЂТ Minister of State (Minister for Efficiency and Transformation), to discuss the Procurement Bill.аЂТ 

Minister Murphy concluded:аЂТ б‚Т€ТœSimplifyingаЂТ the procurement process and making it easier forаЂТ smallаЂТ firms to bid for government work is a key priority for me when it comes to public procurement. It was useful to discuss our common interest in reforming public procurement to put social value at the heart of government contracting .б‚Т€Т

Notes to editors:аЂТ 

1. Picture caption (L-R) б‚Т€Т“ Scottish Finance Minister Kate Forbes, Welsh Finance Minister Rebecca Evans, Chief Secretary Simon Clarke and Finance Minister Conor Murphy.
2. All media enquiries to the Department of Finance Press Office atаЂТ [email protected]

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