Peter Robinson proposed cuts and savings. The DUP wants to get a slice of Belfast Port’s savings and annual income. There would be a freeze on all civil service pay for those earning over£21000. There be less recruitment. It is reckoned this would cut numbers by 4000 jobs over the spending period. All quangos are coming under scrutiny. Use of consultants would be reduced by 25 per cent in all departments. The number of departments would be reduced to eight. The number of MLAs will be cut to seventy two/five. Ministerial salaries will be reduced by 5/10 pet cent voluntarily. Some real estate has to be sold in the coming years. Procurement would have to be overhauled and streamlined to avoid rolling over contracts. There would be fewer big cross border east west meetings with greater use of video conferencing. It is proposed that £100m be taken from current spending and put into capital spending annually.
Robinson cuts
Eamonn Mallie
I am a regular contributor to discussion programmes on TV and radio both at home and abroad. An experienced political editor and author specialising in Politics, Security and 20th Century Art.