Order Paper

Indicative timings for the order of business

Marshalled list of amendments

The Assembly to sit at 10.30am.

1. Prayers

2. Members’ Statements

3. Executive Committee Business

Motion: The draft Farm Sustainability (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Proposed:

That the draft Farm Sustainability (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Legislative Consent Motion: Great British Energy Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension of the provisions of the Great British Energy Bill to Northern Ireland.

Minister for the Economy

4. Question Time

4.1 Education

5. Private Members’ Business

Motion: Impact of the Universal Credit Five-Week Wait

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses regret that over 349,000 people are living in poverty; recognises that social welfare payments play an important role in helping people cope with financial difficulties; outlines its concern that over 71,000 households will be affected by the move to Universal Credit and consequent five-week wait; acknowledges that there is a strong connection between the five-week wait, debt and increased food bank use; expresses alarm on the potential link between the five-week wait and exploitation by illegal money lenders; calls on the Minister for Communities to introduce an upfront grant for families to cover basic living costs during the five-week wait, targeted to vulnerable households as a matter of urgency; and further calls on the Minister to establish a dedicated working group, including those with lived experience and the advice sector, to develop a long term solution to the five-week wait.

Mr Mark Durkan

Mr Colin McGrath

Mr Matthew O’Toole

Motion: Inheritance Tax Changes Impacting Family Farms

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges concerns about inheritance tax changes impacting family farms; recognises the financial pressures on farming families due to inflation, rising living costs, and economic uncertainty; highlights that the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ analysis shows that half of all farms, accounting for 80 per cent of farmed land, could be affected by the inheritance tax changes announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget 2024; further highlights that the increase in average land value estimates from £15,000 per acre to £21,000 per acre, as calculated by this analysis, raises the number of farms impacted by these changes; understands that these changes threaten the viability of family farms that contribute significantly to our agricultural output; and calls on the Executive to actively lobby the British Government in advance of the upcoming Spring Statement 2025, to secure the urgent reversal of these changes ensuring the protection and sustainability of family farms.

Mr Declan McAleer

Miss Nicola Brogan

Miss Áine Murphy

6. Adjournment

• Waste Water Infrastructure in East Belfast

Mr Peter McReynolds