MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Over £6 million spent on Executive Brussels office since Brexit vote

Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

Commenting on the answer to an Assembly question he received, TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston said:

“The spend on the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels – over £6.7 million since the UK voted to leave the EU – will doubtless cause many to raise eyebrows, not least because I am sure I am not alone in not being clear as to what it actually does.

“Such a large investment of public money is something we would expect to see more openness about. It would appear to me that in relation to this – as with so much in the Executive Office – there is little regard for public money.

“I also cannot help but contrast this lavish spend on the Executive’s Brussels office with the fact that InterTrade UK – which was heralded by the DUP as a major achievement to address the challenges posed by the Protocol – doesn’t have offices, has no independent budget and no staff.

“This spend is something I intend to prob further in the Executive Office Committee”.

Note to editors

Mr Gaston’s question and the answer received are as follows: