Stormont ministers have been discussing strategy for defending Government spending levels in Northern Ireland.

An Executive meeting yesterday addressed the need to work together to protect the Assembly’s block grant that funds public services.

Ministers are likely to form part of a united front against cuts, alongside MPs from the province.

The Executive meeting came two days after the Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition took power at Westminster.

The administration, headed by David Cameron and Nick Clegg, is expected to press ahead with controversial Conservative plans to make £6bn worth of spending cuts in the current financial year.

It is not yet clear how these savings will affect Northern Ireland and other devolved regions.

The DUP claimed during the General Election campaign that the £6bn figure would translate into £200m worth of cuts here, hitting public sector jobs and frontline services.

The actual figure will depend on a number of factors, including whether health spending is ringfenced from savings.

The £6bn plan will only be the first stage in a drive to tackle the UK’s deficit, with much larger cuts anticipated in future years.

Yesterday’s Stormont Executive meeting was the last for SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie.

She is stepping down as Social Development Minister following her election as South Down MP, and will be replaced in the post by party colleague Alex Attwood.