Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to page 52 of the New Decade, New Approach document published in January 2020, what assessment he has made of the Government's progress on turbocharging infrastructure delivery in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

The UK Government is committed to working with the Executive to turbocharge infrastructure delivery in Northern Ireland, including through the £2bn New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) deal. Alongside this, the Government will be undertaking an ambitious review of connectivity within the United Kingdom through the Union Connectivity Review, which will look at the opportunities for strengthening connections throughout the Union.

Further to this, the Government has also committed £562m to the City and Growth Deal programme in Northern Ireland and £55m for the Inclusive Future Fund to regenerate the North West. This funding aims to have a positive and lasting impact on employability and skills, infrastructure, tourism and regeneration.

The Government’s £2 billion NDNA financial package includes: a £1bn Barnett-based investment guarantee from the UK Government, £60m for a Graduate Entry Medical School in the North West and £50m to support the rollout of ultra-low emission public transport. The Government has already provided the Executive with £553m from this financial package to support our commitments. We will continue to work through the Joint Board to drive the delivery of NDNA.

In the light of Covid-19, it is all the more important that we work closely with the Executive to enable the strongest possible economic recovery. The Government has provided unprecedented assistance to businesses and households through the UK and has provided the Executive with significant additional resources to respond to the crisis. We will be equally committed in driving forward economic growth, building back better and enabling Northern Ireland to seize the opportunities presented by our new trading relationships.