Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to increase the number of publicly available electric vehicle charging devices in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

While transport is largely devolved to the Department for Infrastructure, the Department is supporting Northern Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles. Through Round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund, we are providing up to £3.27 million to upgrade and expand the EV charging network. Previously, two grants totalling £1.38 million were awarded under the On Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Bank of America about establishing a new Belfast operations facility, and what assessment they have made of the benefits that investment will have on the Northern Ireland economy.

Answered by Lord Leong - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government has been working with Bank of America over several years to support their growth in the UK.

Recognizing Northern Ireland’s offer as an investment destination, DBT officials - both in the UK and North America - held a succession of meetings with Bank of America leadership to facilitate an announcement ahead of the State Visit.

This significant investment cements Northern Ireland’s role in the global financial services sector, boosting growth and delivering high value, skilled roles for the people of Northern Ireland.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of food inflation on household budgets.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

UK consumer food prices depend on a range of factors including agri-food import prices, domestic agricultural prices, domestic labour and manufacturing costs, and Sterling exchange rates. Changes in food prices are dependent on changes in one or more of these factors.

The latest available OECD data (up to 2023) shows that food prices in the UK remained lower than in most advanced economies and the lowest among G7 countries. After the USA, UK households spend the lowest share of their income on food and non-alcoholic drinks in the G7. In fiscal year end 2024, households spent 11.3% of their income on food, rising to 14.3% for the lowest 20% by income. Over the last ten years these figures have been relatively stable, barring the impact of coronavirus in 2020-22.

Through our Plan for Change we are going further and faster to put more money in people's pockets.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to have discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive about the geographical distribution of successful applicants to the Northern Ireland Football Fund.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

As the Northern Ireland Football Fund is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive, it is for them to decide how best to award and distribute this funding.

The Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme is delivering £3 million of investment into Northern Ireland through the Irish Football Association this financial year. As part of its delivery, there is ongoing engagement at official and Ministerial level to ensure the two funds complement each other.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to create an AI Growth Zone in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The formal application process for AIGZ opened in April 2025 and we recently announced an AI Growth Zone in North East England. We will be communicating to all formal applicants the outcome of their application shortly and we will move selected sites forward as soon as they are ready.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding they have released to Northern Ireland under the Plan for Neighbourhoods; and what benefits they expect the initiative to deliver for the target areas.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

On 4 March 2025, the UK Government announced the Plan for Neighbourhoods, a £1.5 billion programme to deliver up to £20 million of funding and support over the next decade into 75 communities across the UK. These 75 areas, including Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry, will now be incorporated into the Pride in Place Programme, representing the first phase of the programme.