Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she is taking to help deliver city deals for Northern Ireland.

This Government has committed to a comprehensive and ambitious set of city deals across Northern Ireland to boost investment and help unlock Northern Ireland’s full potential.

We have opened negotiations with local partners in the Belfast City Regions on a possible Deal and the Chancellor has invited Derry & Strabane District Council to also submit their proposals for a City Deal.

Both regions are working intensively alongside the NICS and UK Government to develop bids that will seek to deliver step changes in economic productivity and growth and I look forward to reviewing their proposals in the near future.