List of acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2012 facts for kids

Laws are important rules that help a country or region run smoothly. In Northern Ireland, new laws are made by the Northern Ireland Assembly, which is like their local parliament. These laws are called "Acts." Each Act deals with a specific topic, from how money is spent to how taxes are collected.

This page looks at some of the important Acts passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2012. These laws helped manage public money, set tax rates, and plan for the future of people living in Northern Ireland. Understanding these Acts helps us see how the government works to serve its people.

Important Laws Passed in Northern Ireland in 2012

In 2012, the Northern Ireland Assembly passed several key laws. Each of these Acts was designed to help manage different parts of public life and services. Let's explore what some of these important laws were about.

The Rates Act: Understanding Property Taxes

The Rates (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2012 was passed on 28 February 2012. This law was about changing how "rates" are collected. Rates are a type of tax that people pay on their homes and businesses. This money helps to fund local services like rubbish collection, street lighting, and parks. This Act made some updates to an older law from 1977, making sure the system for collecting these taxes was fair and up-to-date.

The Budget Acts: How Government Money Works

The Northern Ireland Assembly passed two important laws about money in 2012:

• The Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2012 was passed on 20 March 2012.
• The Budget (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2012 was passed on 20 July 2012.

These "Budget Acts" are super important because they decide how the government can spend money. Think of it like your family's budget, but on a much bigger scale! These laws allowed the government to take money from a special account called the "Consolidated Fund." This fund holds all the money the government collects from taxes and other sources.

The Acts explained exactly how much money could be spent and what it could be spent on. For example, money might be set aside for schools, hospitals, or roads. They also allowed the Department of Finance and Personnel (the government department in charge of money) to borrow money if needed. These laws made sure that public money was used wisely and for the right purposes for the years ending in March 2012 and March 2013.

The Pensions Act: Planning for the Future

The Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2012 became law on 1 June 2012. This Act was all about "pensions." A pension is money that people receive regularly after they stop working, usually when they are older. It helps them live comfortably in retirement. This law made new rules and changes related to how pensions work in Northern Ireland. It aimed to make sure that people's future financial security was protected.

The Air Passenger Duty Act: Tax on Flying

The Air Passenger Duty (Setting of Rate) Act (Northern Ireland) 2012 was passed on 11 December 2012. This law focused on something called "Air Passenger Duty." This is a tax that is added to the price of airline tickets when you fly from an airport in Northern Ireland. This Act set the specific amount of this tax. The money collected from this duty also goes into the government's funds to help pay for public services.