Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made on the implementation of The New Decade, New Approach, published in January.

Despite the need to focus efforts on Covid-19, good progress has been made in a number of areas, including the ending of the nursing strike, implementing the immigration rules changes set out in the deal and releasing £553 million of the £2billion of funding in the deal. In addition, a Veteran’s Commissioner for Northern Ireland has been appointed, and the Executive has reached agreement on the funding for a new Northern Ireland Graduate Entry Medical School in Derry/Londonderry.

Furthermore, the Joint Board has met twice and are planning a third meeting to take place in early 2021. The best way forward for Northern Ireland lies in thriving devolved institutions that support the Executive and Assembly to deliver on the issues that matter to the people of Northern Ireland.