Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on trends in the level of childcare funding in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
I welcome the recent debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly on childcare and the cross-party support for a childcare strategy to be delivered.
Whilst childcare in Northern Ireland is devolved, the UK Government is keen to see this work progressed so that parents are able to balance childcare alongside their work. Northern Ireland has already received the Barnett consequentials of childcare funding in England.
The UK Government has provided the NI Executive with a significant £3.3 billion package, including money to stabilise, which will support progress for key services.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make it his policy to support public ownership of Lough Neagh; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
Any decision to negotiate the sale of Lough Neagh with its landowner and bring it into public ownership is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.
The Northern Ireland parties need to restore the Executive so that locally elected decision-makers can address issues such as this.