Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made on signing off the bid to host the Commonwealth Youth Games in Northern Ireland.

On Friday 22^nd June, the Commonwealth Games Federation Executive Board resolved to begin discussions and invite expressions of interest from other Commonwealth cities who wish to build on the successes of Samoa 2015 and Bahamas 2017 and host the 2021 edition of the Youth Games.

I share the disappointment that Commonwealth Youth Games will not take place in Belfast in 2021, although the Federation have indicated that Belfast will be able to re-submit its candidature for 2021, or consider another candidature in the future; this is why we need to secure a restoration of the devolved institutions. The UK Government remains focused on restoring a democratically accountable devolved government, so that locally accountable politicians can make decisions on behalf of the public they represent.