Special Report Sep. 03 2026
Committee: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (Department: Northern Ireland Office)Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate has been made of the educational attainment gaps between different communities in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
As stated in the my written answer to UIN 19007, there is an educational attainment gap in Northern Ireland, however, the discrepancy is greatest when seen through economic background.
Education is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Executive and it is for the Executive to ensure that all schools are sufficiently supported to maximise all pupils academic attainment.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the introduction of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to Northern Ireland; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the progress to establish the arrangements for a comparable scheme.
Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
As energy policy is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will not directly extend to Northern Ireland.
However, the UK Government will provide funding to the Northern Ireland Executive to enable them to implement their own comparable scheme to support Northern Ireland businesses. Parameters for this support have been outlined to the Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Department for the Economy, and funding will be released following the standard approval of a business case demonstrating equivalent support for eligible businesses.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on improving vocational and technical training opportunities for young people.
Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
Skills and tertiary education is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy and NIO Ministers will continue to work closely with them to improve opportunities for young people.
The UK Government’s £50m Defence Growth Deal for Northern Ireland is an example of one of the ways in which we are supporting skills development and the creation of new high quality, high skilled jobs across Northern Ireland.
We are also investing in skills and growth initiatives with £617m of UK Government funding through the City and Growth Deal and £150 million towards Enhanced Investment Zones in Northern Ireland. For instance, a £2 million advanced manufacturing skills pilot is being delivered through UKG’s £150 million Enhanced Investment Zone, which will develop essential workforce skills, providing NI businesses with skilled employees essential for their success.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on delays in access to NHS services in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
The Government is committed to ensuring everybody in the UK can access timely healthcare. The operation of the health service in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter, but we are supporting the Executive in their efforts to reduce waiting lists and tackle delays to services.
NIO Ministers meet with Executive Ministers on a regular basis and the progress made on tackling waiting lists in Northern Ireland is encouraging, reducing waiting lists by treating an additional 70,000 patients. However, health outcomes in Northern Ireland lag behind the rest of the UK and we will continue to work with the Executive to reduce this gap.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on supporting schools in areas of high deprivation.
Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
Whilst recognising that education is a devolved matter, the UK Government will continue to work collaboratively with the Northern Ireland Executive. Although new in post, the ministerial team look forward to meeting regularly with Executive colleagues and discussing how we can best work together on reducing gaps in attainment and tackling deprivation.