Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment his Department has made of the success of the Northern Ireland centenary programme.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Government’s programme to mark the Centenary of Northern Ireland this year has been an enormous success, with the delivery of major cultural, sporting, business, community and academic events that have engaged people from all communities across Northern Ireland, the UK and internationally.
The programme has strengthened national recognition and international awareness of Northern Ireland’s unique and enduring contribution to the UK’s culture and economy, and promoted Northern Ireland as an increasingly great place to live, work, study and do business.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Irish Government on the arrangements of events to mark the centenary year of the creation of Northern Ireland.
Answered by Conor Burns
As part of the New Decade, New Approach deal, the UK Government committed to mark the Centenary of Northern Ireland in 2021 in a spirit of mutual respect, inclusiveness and reconciliation, in line with the Principles for Remembering. The Centenary programme presents a unique opportunity to celebrate Northern Ireland’s contribution to the UK and highlight its people, places and products.
The Government’s approach has been to provide an opportunity to reflect on the past while building for the future, facilitating national recognition and international awareness of this significant anniversary, which represents not just the Centenary of Northern Ireland, but also of the United Kingdom as we know it today.
The Centenary Programme was devised to mark historical anniversaries, reflect on the historical aspects of the Centenary through an expert Historical Advisory Panel, and, through consultation with a cross community Centenary Forum, along with a number of other UK and international stakeholders, deliver a forward looking programme of events and support Northern Ireland on its path towards economic recovery following the Covid pandemic.
Representatives from the Irish Government’s Department for Foreign Affairs have been involved throughout, and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has had regular discussions with the Irish Government on a range of matters, including on marking the Centenary as an important milestone within the Decade of Centenaries.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to mark the centenary of the opening of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie
In line with the Government's New Decade, New Approach commitments, Northern Ireland’s centenary provides an opportunity to facilitate national recognition and international awareness of this important anniversary, in which we will both reflect on the past and build for the future. There are a number of key historical milestones which fall during the centenary year, one of which is the anniversary of the opening of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, which we are keen to see marked.
There are a number of important strands to our centenary programme, including historical understanding and engagement, as well as supporting trade and investment which will showcase Northern Ireland’s rich potential, giving crucial support to its recovery from the pandemic. We also want to focus on the future, especially our young people, and will ensure that their voices are heard in the centenary programme.
We are currently developing these plans and will be publicising them over the coming months.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to mark the 100-year anniversary of Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
In the New Decade, New Approach deal, the Government committed to marking this important national anniversary, recognising that it offered an opportunity to reflect on the past as well as to build for the future, in Northern Ireland, across the UK and internationally.
In August, the Prime Minister announced the establishment of a Centenary Forum, and a Centenary Historical Advisory Panel, facilitating the inclusion of diverse perspectives in our planning for the centenary.
The programme of centenary events being developed allows for reflection on this profoundly significant moment in the history of the United Kingdom, while also celebrating Northern Ireland’s people, business, culture, arts, and young talent, looking forward to a positive future.
Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
What steps his Department is taking to mark the 100 year anniversary of Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government is committed to facilitating national recognition and international awareness of this important national anniversary.
The centenary will be an opportunity to reflect on this moment of profound significance in the history of the United Kingdom, in a way that includes diverse perspectives and facilitates respectful discussion.
It will also offer a platform to showcase what is best about Northern Ireland around the world. The programme of centenary events being developed will therefore celebrate Northern Ireland’s people, business, culture, arts, and young talent, looking forward to a positive future.
Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to mark the 100th anniversary of Northern Ireland in 2021.
Answered by Robin Walker
In the New Decade, New Approach deal, the Government committed to marking this centenary, recognising that it offered an opportunity to reflect on the past as well as to build for the future, in Northern Ireland, across the UK and internationally. We committed to facilitating national recognition and international awareness of the anniversary, which marks not only the centenary of Northern Ireland, but also of the United Kingdom as we know it.
On his recent visit to Northern Ireland, the Prime Minister announced the establishment of a Centenary Forum, and a Centenary Historical Advisory Panel. This will offer us the opportunity to work with a broad spectrum of people to deliver an ambitious and exciting programme of events to mark the anniversary. Further details about the centenary programme will be available later in the autumn.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to page 53 of the New Decade, New approach document, published in January 2020, how much additional funding from the public purse will be provided to support marking the 2021 centenary year and related projects in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK Government has provided £2 billion of funding to support implementation of the New Decade, New Approach deal. £545 million of this has already been allocated. The £2 billion includes a £1bn Barnett-based investment guarantee from the UK Government, which will include significant new funding to turbocharge infrastructure investment. This guarantee will apply in all circumstances, and allow the Executive to plan new investment over a five year period. £245m will support the transformation of public services, including transformation across health, education and justice. Funding release will be tied to the delivery of reform. The deal also provided £550m to help put the Executive’s finances on a sustainable footing, including £200 million over three years to resolve the nurses’ pay dispute immediately and deliver pay parity.
Alongside this, the UK Government has provided £60m of capital and resource funding to deliver a Northern Ireland Graduate Entry Medical School in Derry/Londonderry, which has now been approved by the Executive. The UK Government will provide £50m over two years to support the rollout of ultra-low emission public transport.
The Honourable Member has inquired about a range of specific areas of funding, including mental health support, tackling deprivation, tackling paramilitarism, the Castlereagh Foundation, centenary funding, culture and community funding, language and broadcasting support, support for the armed forces and veterans, IFI funding and a fund to promote the competitiveness of the Northern Ireland economy.
£140m of funding has been set aside in the New Decade, New Approach package to address Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances. The overall profiling of this spend to address Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances remains subject to final decisions by ministers. Where identified projects fall within devolved competencies, further discussions are needed with the Executive to establish the amount of funding which is required. We look forward to being able to confirm the detail across all these projects as soon as it is possible to do so.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans the Government has to celebrate the centenary of the establishment of Northern Ireland in 2021.
Answered by Robin Walker
As outlined in New Decade, New Approach, the UK Government is committed to working alongside the restored Executive to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland in 2021 in a spirit of mutual respect, inclusiveness and reconciliation, in line with the principles for remembering.
We are committed to facilitating national recognition and international awareness of this significant anniversary, with opportunities for people to celebrate Northern Ireland and its integral place within the United Kingdom. We will mark the centenary in NI, across the UK, across the island of Ireland and internationally.
We intend to use a cross-Whitehall, collaborative approach to support and deliver projects to mark the centenary. Further details on these projects will be available shortly.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Weardale (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to commemorate in 2021 the centenary of the establishment of Northern Ireland.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie
As outlined in New Decade, New Approach, the UK Government is committed to working alongside the restored Executive to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland in 2021 in a spirit of mutual respect, inclusiveness and reconciliation, in line with the principles for remembering.
We are committed to facilitating national recognition and international awareness of this significant anniversary, with opportunities to mark the centenary in NI, across the UK, across the island of Ireland and internationally.
We intend to use a cross-Whitehall, collaborative approach to support and deliver projects to mark the centenary. Further details on these projects will be available shortly.
Asked by: Jeffrey M Donaldson (Independent - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to support events in Great Britain to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland in 2021.
Answered by Baroness Morgan of Cotes
The Northern Ireland Office has lead responsibility within Government for exploring options to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland in 2021. My Department will work alongside the NIO, where appropriate, to support that work.