The Chancellor will today [10 August] pledge to continue
to do whatever it takes to help the people of Northern Ireland
with rising costs in the coming months, as new figures revealed
nearly £100 million of support has already been delivered to
families across Northern Ireland.
On a visit to Belfast, will be meeting with key
Northern Ireland stakeholders to reiterate the government’s
commitment to delivering an equivalent to the £400 energy bill
discount in Northern Ireland at pace.
It comes as stats show that £98 million of the Cost of Living
Payment has already been delivered to 300,000 bank accounts, with
a further £97 million to come in the autumn. Workers across
Northern Ireland also saw a cut in their National Insurance
contributions last month, representing savings of £264 million
across households this year.
During his visit to Northern Ireland, The Chancellor will meet
with staff at a wholesale supplier to listen to their concerns
around rising household bills and to set out how the UK
government is helping.
Zahawi will also visit an innovation hub for cybersecurity to
celebrate Northern Ireland’s exceptionally strong cyber talent
pool, with Belfast at its heart. The Chancellor will reiterate a
commitment to meeting the pledge within the New Decade, New
Approach deal to have 5,000 cyber professionals working in
Northern Ireland by 2030 with a promise to accelerate skills
programmes and build the talent pipeline going forward.
Chancellor of the
Exchequer, , said:
“I know families across Northern Ireland are feeling
anxious about rising costs and the UK
government has stepped in to
ease pressures on household budgets.
“We delivered an unprecedented level of support in
July with a National Insurance cut that will put £330 back into
workers’ pockets this year, while many of Northern Ireland’s most
vulnerable households have
already received the first instalment of a £650
Cost of Living Payment.
“And there’s more to come. Not only will the second
instalment of that payment arrive this autumn, but I’ve been
clear that we are absolutely committed to bringing an equivalent
to the £400 energy bills discount to
Northern Ireland as soon as possible to ease the burden on
families.
“We will continue to help
support families in Northern
Ireland through the global pressures
we are
all facing.”
The UK government has provided a record £15 billion settlement
for Northern Ireland each year over the next three years.
