This probably gives us a preview of the 2017 agreement:
increased spending on armed forces, obviously on NI too, examining NI corporation tax & other taxes.
Maybe a bit more NI porkbarrel - because they have May over a barrel now.
(Telegraph paywall) Exclusive: Conservatives and DUP drew up secret co-operation deal after 2015 generalelection
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/12/exclusive-conservatives-dup-drew-secret-co-operation-deal-2015/
"Representatives of David Cameron and George Osborne held secret talks with senior DUP figures and drew up a formal “draft agreement” for the DUP to support the Tory Government after the narrow election victory in 2015."
"Conservative sources said that while the deal was never formally agreed it demonstrated how the two parties have a long history of working together closely.
A copy of the draft agreement – marked “official – sensitive” and seen by The Daily Telegraph – was hammered out over several days.
It set out a number of ways in which the British Government would offer financial support to Northern Ireland as the price for any support.
Mark Harper, the-then Chief Whip, Oliver Letwin, the-then Minister for Government Policy and Lord Llewellyn of Steep, who as Ed Llewllyn was Mr Cameron’s then-chief of staff, negotiated the deal for the Government.
The agreement said: “The DUP will support the Government in any no confidence motion for as long as the Statement of Principles is in force.
“With the exceptions listed below, DUP MPs will vote with the Government on all other matters.”
The DUP agreed that “it decides, case by case, on welfare reforms, matters relating exclusively to Northern Ireland, and matters relating to the devolution of powers to and the structure of government in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales.”
"On military spending, the agreement said: “The DUP and the Conservative Party agree that the UK’s standing in the world is of paramount significance.
“The DUP will accordingly support the Government’s determination to maintain the scope and reach of our diplomatic effort, the scale and effectiveness of our international aid programme (including in relation to conflict resolution and stabilisation) and the strength of our national defence.
“The Government will maintain the current size of the regular armed services, increase the reserves to 30,000 and maintain the real value of the £163billion capital defence equipment programme,
with the ambition of holding defence sending (including spending on cyber and counter-terrorism) at 2 per cent of GDP.”
In return “for the support provided by the DUP” the Government agreed to “examine seriously … adjustments to the Corporate Tax regime in Northern Ireland” and “discuss with the DUP other tax changes that could encourage economic growth in Northern Ireland”.
"Ministers said yesterday that the Queen’s Speech could be delayed from Monday June 19 to allow for more time for the two sides to agree the details of the legislative programme."
The Government also agreed to “enhance” foreign office support for foreign direct investment into Northern Ireland and
“ensure that Northern Ireland can receive a fair share both of national government contracts and of infrastructure investments”.
The Tories said they would “work with the DUP to maintain Northern Ireland’s 100 per cent regional aid status,
to reduce electricity costs in Northern Ireland
and to ensure that both Innovate UK and the British Business Bank focus more heavily on Northern Ireland”.
The deal to be unveiled on Tuesday by Theresa May and Arlene Foster will be “broadbrush” and a “broad outline of principles”, sources said,
to allow for a more detailed legislative programme to be hammered out in coming days.
The DUP is understood to have told Tory ministers that the Government must guarantee the 2 per cent of GDP spent on defence does not include non-military spending.
One source said the DUP was pushing for “a real two per cent” worth of spending on defence from the Tory Government.
< so that's the delay - May being forced into either tax increase (unlikely) or more cuts elsewhere (rUK, welfare) >
The letter says “Government boasts of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence are widely criticised as an accounting deception.
< I bet this truth is omitted before 2017 publication ! >
Most analysts now agree core defence expenditure for hard military power is well below 2 per cent.”