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"Nine months ago people were talking about a fiscal black hole - people are not talking about that now," he said. Stormont's major source of funds is the "block grant" it receives from the Treasury each year. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in Lisburn, the secretary of state said: "It is always open to the executive to raise more funds for itself. "If it chooses not to do that, then that may add to the pressures, but being in government, especially these days, is about making choices. "It's about how you spend the money you have been given. I think the government has played its part with that record settlement." Stormont has yet to resolve a pay dispute with health workers, prompting unions to engage in discussions about potential strike action. Last month, the executive said it had agreed £100m for this year's award, but Health Minister Mike Nesbitt still needs to find the remaining £100m required. The Treasury has also turned down a request for £119m to fund compensation for police officers affected by a huge data breach.
