Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Martin Vickers Excerpts
Wednesday 15th November 2017

(6 years, 12 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Chris Green Portrait Chris Green (Bolton West) (Con)
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5. What plans he has to support the development of city deals in Northern Ireland.

Martin Vickers Portrait Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con)
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12. What plans he has to support the development of city deals in Northern Ireland.

James Brokenshire Portrait The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (James Brokenshire)
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The Government have a clear manifesto commitment to work towards a comprehensive and ambitious set of city deals across Northern Ireland to boost investment and help to unlock Northern Ireland’s full potential. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and I have already had some early discussions with partners in the Belfast city region.

James Brokenshire Portrait James Brokenshire
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I can. The fact is that Northern Ireland has had no city deals, whereas England, Scotland and Wales have made 33 deals worth up to £4.9 billion. This is about the change that city deals bring and the other finance that city deals are able to unlock. That is why we strongly believe there is a firm place for city deals in Northern Ireland, and we are committed to advancing them.

Martin Vickers Portrait Martin Vickers
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Will my right hon. Friend assure us that, as in England, it is important that provincial towns benefit from city deals? Will he ensure that not just Belfast but the whole of Northern Ireland benefits from the growth that city deals can bring?