Ulster will benefit from yesterday's Budget, according to Northern Ireland, Finance Minister Peter Robinson.

He has said that an additional £21m will flow from Chancellor Alistair Darling's first Budget over the next three years.

Mr Robinson said that while the outlook for public finances was weaker than in recent years, some extra cash was included in the Budget.

He said that the NI Executive would decide where the money was spent "in line with local needs and priorities".

In particular, Mr Robinson welcomed measures targeted at young families, but expressed regret that more had not been done for older people.

"The chancellor has set out a number of measures concerning Child Benefit and the Child Tax Credit which will be of benefit to large numbers of hard pressed households in Northern Ireland," he said.

"While the measures for business and charities are also welcome, it is disappointing that the one-off benefits to the elderly, on top of the normal Winter Fuel Payments, are for 2008-09 only and I would urge the chancellor to consider extending these payments for future years."

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey also welcomed the increase in duty on tobacco and alcohol: "There has not been any significant increase in the price of alcohol since the 1990's so any measures which can cut down on excessive drinking are very helpful," he said.

On the 'down-side', the Budget also saw an increase of 4p on a pint of beer, 14p on a bottle of wine and 55p on a bottle of spirits. Duty on a packet of cigarettes is up 11p.

(BMcC)