Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much (a) their Department and (b) its arm’s length bodies have spent on (i) installing electric vehicle charging facilities and (ii) purchasing electric vehicles since 4 July 2024; and what estimate their Department has made of the difference in capital cost between (A) the electric vehicles purchased by their Department and (B) comparable (1) petrol and (2) diesel models.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department and its arm’s length bodies have not purchased any electric vehicles, nor installed any electric vehicle charging facilities since 4 July 2024.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
What steps he is taking to promote Northern Ireland's links with the (a) North East of England and (b) rest of the UK.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government places great importance on the Union, and Northern Ireland’s integral place within it. We are using Northern Ireland’s centenary to promote Northern Ireland and showcase the contribution of its people and places to our United Kingdom.
Through the Union Connectivity Review, we are committed to continuing to find new ways to connect our towns and cities through better transport links. This will help not only to fuel economic recovery, but also to level up and seize the best opportunities for all communities across the UK. I am delighted that daily direct flights between Belfast City and Teesside resumed in February, operated by Loganair.
Our support to businesses post-Brexit further promotes these links. For example, under the support offered to businesses, the Trader Support Service has moved over 690,000 consignments between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, linked to over 13,500 businesses. A number of these businesses will be based in the North East of England.