Overview of the Act
In summary, this Act:
provides for a continuation of existing powers allowing the senior officers of Northern Ireland departments to exercise the functions of those departments when in the public interest, notwithstanding the ongoing lack of Northern Ireland Ministers;
confers on the Secretary of State the power to commission advice or request information from Northern Ireland departments, for the purpose of developing options for raising more public revenue in Northern Ireland or otherwise improving the sustainability of public finances in Northern Ireland;
confers on the Secretary of State the power to direct Northern Ireland departments to carry out consultations, for the purpose of developing options for raising more public revenue in Northern Ireland or otherwise improving the sustainability of public finances in Northern Ireland; and
requires certain accounts, reports and other financial documents that must be laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly to also be laid in Parliament when the Northern Ireland Assembly is not functioning.