Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government further to Written Answer from Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 26 November (HL2612), what budget has been allocated to the East–West Council; who was invited to attend its first meeting and who actually attended in March.

The inaugural meeting of the East-West Council took place in Dover House, London in March 2024 and was chaired by the then Secretary of State for Levelling Up and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations.

It was attended by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Minister of State for Northern Ireland and the Cabinet Office, and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up. It was also attended by the Northern Ireland First Minister, deputy First Minister, Minister for the Economy and Communities Minister. As with all intergovernmental bodies, the East-West Council will be resourced appropriately.