Asked by: John Grady (Labour - Glasgow East)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to support community cohesion in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Recent events in Portadown have shown that despite the huge progress made in Northern Ireland over the last thirty years, deep trauma still exists and a number of contentious issues remain. The UK Government is investing more than £730 million into the PEACEPLUS programme to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and both I and my Ministerial colleagues meet regularly with the Northern Ireland Executive and the PSNI to discuss a range of issues in Northern Ireland, including community cohesion and reconciliation.
I know my Hon. Friend is also concerned about the issue of racism toward the Roma community, including those affected in his constituency.
I utterly condemn it. There is no place for racism of any kind in Northern Ireland, nor across the UK. Those who have chosen to make Northern Ireland their home and contribute to its social and economic development should never have to face any form of disgraceful racist abuse or prejudice.