Chris Heaton-Harris meets Jayne Brady to discuss revenue raising

In June, Chris Heaton-Harris asked Stormont departments to look at money raising options

The secretary of state has reiterated that he intends to push ahead with options for raising more public revenue in Northern Ireland.

Chris Heaton-Harris was speaking after he met the head of the civil service, Jayne Brady.

He said he had received some 350 pages of information from Stormont civil servants this week over areas such as water charges and higher tuition fees.

He said he was "minded" to push ahead with public consultations.

However, Mr Heaton-Harris said he would need to read the detail first.

The secretary of state also confirmed that a major trade conference planned for Northern Ireland in September will go ahead, despite a request from UUP leader Doug Beattie to delay it in order to allow more time for Stormont to be restored.

Asked where talks were between the government and the DUP on issues relating to the Windsor framework, he said "we're half way there".

Jayne Brady has previously said Stormont departments have made all the cuts they can

Months ago he said he did not know what the DUP wanted but on Friday he said while finding a legislative fix the DUP has asked for had been "difficult", progress was being made.

Under current legislation Mr Heaton-Harris does not have the powers to unilaterally implement revenue-raising measures but he did not rule out taking the powers at some stage.

He set a budget for Stormont in April for this financial year.

Since then, he has held out the prospect of introducing things such as water charges but has said he wants finances on a "surer footing".