Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Cultural and Educational Programs on UK soft power in Ireland.

The Joint Statement between the Prime Minister and Taoiseach Micheál Martin following the UK-Ireland summit in Cork this March includes a range of cultural and educational initiatives that will enhance the already rich cooperation between our countries in both these fields. In particular, the first Ireland-UK Youth Forum, the next meeting of which will be hosted by the UK in 2027.