Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve the transport connections that link Northern Ireland to Great Britain.

As the author of the Union Connectivity Review, I am familiar with the issue raised. While transport is largely devolved to Northern Ireland, the Department for Transport is taking steps to improve links between Great Britain and Northern Ireland by funding Transport Scotland’s A75 feasibility study to explore options to bypass Springholm and Crocketford, supporting the Windsor Framework to streamline transport and customs processes, and through investment in green shipping corridors through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. The government is also subsidising flights between City of Derry Airport and London Heathrow Airport through a Public Service Obligation.