Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much Round 3 Levelling Up funding has been ring-fenced for spending in Northern Ireland; and when, and by whom, the decision was taken to exclude Northern Ireland from the announcement on 20 November regarding the release of Round 3 funding for the rest of the UK.

£30 million has been reserved for Northern Ireland from Levelling Up Fund round 3. The Northern Ireland budget pressure is a critical factor affecting Northern Ireland’s economic prosperity and the lives of citizens. In this context it is right that UK Government should consider its approach to funding available for Northern Ireland in a rounded way. As part of our commitment to levelling up, we want to work with a restored Executive to find the best approach to supporting people in Northern Ireland, taking account of current budget pressures.