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20/01/2009
Vote On Cutting Number Of Stormont Departments Passed
The DUP has won a battle - but not the war - in a bid to reduce the number of Stormont departments.
Assembly members voted yesterday on the party's motion on cutting the number of departments from 11 to six or seven.
Earlier, DUP assembly members had pointed to a recent decision by the Scottish Government to slash its departments from nine to six and the Stormont motion, which was supported by the Ulster Unionists and the Alliance Party, was easily passed despite opposition from the SDLP.
However, Sinn Fein members, who abstained during voting, said such a move was "premature before a review was completed".
It is also only a DUP victory of sorts, as any actual reduction in the number of departments would also require cross-community support at the Stormont Executive.
The DUP MLAs Simon Hamilton, Peter Weir and Ian Paisley Jnr originally tabled the motion which read: "That this Assembly recognises the importance of ensuring that the maximum amount of public spending is directed at front line services; and calls on the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to bring forward proposals to reduce the number of Government departments."
The party said the move would "reduce duplication and release much-needed cash for frontline services".
However, the SDLP opposed the motion accusing the DUP of "a power grab".
(BMcC/JM)
Assembly members voted yesterday on the party's motion on cutting the number of departments from 11 to six or seven.
Earlier, DUP assembly members had pointed to a recent decision by the Scottish Government to slash its departments from nine to six and the Stormont motion, which was supported by the Ulster Unionists and the Alliance Party, was easily passed despite opposition from the SDLP.
However, Sinn Fein members, who abstained during voting, said such a move was "premature before a review was completed".
It is also only a DUP victory of sorts, as any actual reduction in the number of departments would also require cross-community support at the Stormont Executive.
The DUP MLAs Simon Hamilton, Peter Weir and Ian Paisley Jnr originally tabled the motion which read: "That this Assembly recognises the importance of ensuring that the maximum amount of public spending is directed at front line services; and calls on the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to bring forward proposals to reduce the number of Government departments."
The party said the move would "reduce duplication and release much-needed cash for frontline services".
However, the SDLP opposed the motion accusing the DUP of "a power grab".
(BMcC/JM)
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