Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to help grow Northern Ireland's economy.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
The Government is committed to supporting Northern Ireland’s economy. The Northern Ireland Investment Summit in September 2023 welcomed 180 investors, and generous funding packages are creating jobs, developing skills, supporting businesses and attracting FDI, including through the £617m UK Government investment into the four City and Growth Deals in Northern Ireland and the British Business Bank’s £70m Investment Fund. Northern Ireland is now positioned for an era of transformational success with a financial package worth in excess of £3bn to a returning Executive, plus unique arrangements for trade across the UK, the EU and the world, together with a range of government packages of support.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the impact of the spend local voucher scheme on footfall on high streets in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Spend Local Voucher Scheme was designed and introduced by the Northern Ireland Executive and was made possible through the £5 billion additional Covid funding that the Government provided to the Executive since the start of the pandemic.
Assessment of the take up and impact of the Spend Local Voucher Scheme is a matter for the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy, however, I look forward to discussing the matter with the Executive in due course as part of our regular engagement.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the level of take up of the spend local voucher scheme in Northern Ireland in each month since that scheme has been active; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Spend Local Voucher Scheme was designed and introduced by the Northern Ireland Executive and was made possible through the £5 billion additional Covid funding that the Government provided to the Executive since the start of the pandemic.
Assessment of the take up and impact of the Spend Local Voucher Scheme is a matter for the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy, however, I look forward to discussing the matter with the Executive in due course as part of our regular engagement.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of the Historical Investigations Unit from its establishment until the conclusion of that unit's work; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Julian Smith
The Government is committed to reforming the current legacy system in Northern Ireland in a way that provides reconciliation for victims and certainty for veterans. The Government will be working to develop proposals in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
What steps she is taking to increase the number of career opportunities for young people in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Karen Bradley
This Government is committed to increasing opportunities for all, and ensuring every young person in Northern Ireland is able to fulfill their potential.
Our Industrial Strategy is helping provide employment opportunities for young people by supporting businesses to thrive and grow. Overall employment in Northern Ireland is at a record high and youth unemployment has dropped by over 10% since 2015.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to increase the student loan repayment threshold for students who have taken out loans in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
This is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and therefore decisions on this issue are for local politicians in locally accountable political institutions to consider and act upon. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is continuing to meet the political parties to review the current position and explore how we might achieve the restoration of devolution while ensuring the good governance of Northern Ireland in the interim.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent estimate she has made of the proportion of pupils attending integrated schools in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
The Government is committed to supporting shared and integrated education in Northern Ireland, as demonstrated by the £500 million dedicated funding allocated under the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements.
However, as education is a devolved matter, an estimate of the proportion of pupils attending integrated schools in Northern Ireland should rightly be sought from the devolved Department for Education.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on ensuring that people in England who were victims of terrorism perpetrated by paramilitary groups based in Northern Ireland are able to access legal aid.
Answered by Karen Bradley
First and foremost I would like to extend my deepest condolences to all those across the UK who have been affected by appalling and devastating acts of terrorism, including those affected by the Hyde Park atrocity.
As my honourable friend knows legal aid decisions are made independently of Government, but I am sure he, like me, very much welcomes the excellent news that the Legal Aid Agency has just decided to award legal aid to the Hyde Park families in their pursuit of justice.