Aspects of public expenditure in Northern Ireland

Abstract

Northern Ireland's financial relations with the rest of the United Kingdom always arouse lively interest inside the region. Recently, however, a more urgent interest in these relations has been developing here and at the same time there has been some awakening of outside interest. Internally the interest springs from the feeling that Northern Ireland may be heading for an Exchequer crisis and that even if this is not the case the existence of a very high rate of chronic unemployment demands some remedy in the financial sphere. Externally the interest in the region's finances stems largely from the current demand for devolution of government in Scotland. The Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs is showing a natural interest in the only major example of devolution in the United Kingdom.