To ask the Minister of Finance for an update on plans to utilise a multi-year budget to provide greater certainty around the transformation of Health and Social Care.

Mr C Murphy

As you will be aware, I have recommended to the Executive that funding for the health service should be their top priority in this Budget. A multi-year Budget provides all Departments, including the Department of Health, with greater certainty of their funding over the next three years and provides an opportunity for longer-term planning. I have shared a paper with Executive colleagues that sets out indicative allocations to Departments in the draft Budget. That contained recommendations to provide additional funding to the Department of Health to support the transformation of health and social care. This was discussed at the Executive meetings on 23 November and 2 December. Ultimately, it is for the Executive to agree any recommendations and allocate resources accordingly. I hope that the Executive will agree a draft Budget and be in a position to commence consultation on it in the very near future.

Mr Speaker

We have time for a very quick supplementary.

Mr C Murphy

I would be very happy to hear from the Member in writing on that just to make sure that we are clear on the agencies that she is talking about. Of course, I want to see all people who work for the public sector being adequately rewarded for their work. That is why I have introduced the living wage issue to the Civil Service and public bodies generally. If I hear from the Member, I will be happy to come back to her in more detail.

Mr Speaker

That ends the period for listed questions. We will move on to 15 minutes of topical questions.