Money Stymies North's Devolved Policing Plan

The North's Finance Minister has questioned the Westminster's government's commitment to financing the transfer of the policing and justice powers to the Assembly.

Sammy Wilson has warned that continuing talks could be in danger and said his party believes there is "little point in continuing the talks with Downing Street unless progress is made soon".

The road to the final part of the devolution jigsaw has been tortuous to date and is already a source of major controversy.

Sinn Féin has been demanding the process be completed in line with an agreement between republicans and the DUP.

Today, Mr Wilson said: "Despite many months of detailed discussions on how justice would be financed, there is still no sign that the government is serious about providing the necessary funding," he said.

The recently installed Executive Minister was commenting as fellow ministers prepared to meet to discuss draft legislation on devolution.

This is due to be held at a meeting of the Assembly's Executive on Thursday, but Mr Wilson said the talks on securing the necessary funding for the move were crucial to completing the process.

"There should be no doubt that unless this matter is resolved, it would be impossible to devolve the functions.

"Indeed, while the government maintains its present position on the matter, discussion about the devolution of policing and justice functions will remain academic."

He added: "We have approached these negotiations with the government in good faith but without serious engagement on their part there is little point in our continuing with these discussions and we will have to consider our future approach on this matter in the coming days."

Mr Wilson welcomed Thursday's planned discussion by Stormont ministers of the draft legislation linked to establishing a new justice minister.

He also said his party was content it had sufficient control over the creation of the new ministry.

There have been several high level meetings at 10 Downing Street lately, although there appeared to be division last month when Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness appeared to be at odds with both the PM's office and his colleague in Stormont Castle, Peter Robinson.

Although quickly resolved, with the Deputy First Minister meeting Gordon Brown without Mr Robinson in London, there had been problems over an initial announcement that both top ministers were due to meet the Prime Minister, when the other parties said that was not the case.

See: McGuinness For No 10

(BMcC/KMcA)