Theresa Villiers: 'The NI welfare reform proposals being looked at'
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers has said that a welfare reform document has been received at Westminster and the proposals are being "looked at".
The five main parties at Stormont have agreed proposals to break the deadlock on welfare reform, the BBC has learned.
The BBC understands the parties have signed off on a package that would increase the £70m put aside for welfare flexibility in the recent draft budget.
Ms Villiers said that "progress has been made" but encouraged parties to keep negotiating.
19 Dec 2014