Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

North-west of Northern Ireland: Investment

Wednesday 8 February 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Colum Eastwood asked about steps to increase investment in the north-west of Northern Ireland, and the Minister responded with commitment to delivering significant investment through various funding streams.
  • Colum Eastwood inquired about the delay in establishing a full-scale university in Derry, and the Minister mentioned progress on the Derry and Strabane city deal including 55 million funding.
  • Tonia Antoniazzi questioned the fairness of the levelling-up process in Northern Ireland, and the Minister assured equitable access for all communities, dismissing the idea of competition between communities as ridiculous.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Colum Eastwood Social Democratic & Labour Party Foyle
Northern Ireland
Context

The area has been waiting for significant investment to support development.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help increase investment in the north-west of Northern Ireland?

Answer from Steven Baker

The Government are committed to supporting all areas of Northern Ireland, and are delivering significant investment in the north-west through several funding streams.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Steps being taken with Cabinet colleagues were not specified.

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Q2 Colum Eastwood Social Democratic & Labour Party Foyle
Education Northern Ireland
Context

People of Derry have been waiting five and a half decades for a full-scale university to be built.

Question

The Minister will know that the people of Derry have been waiting five and a half decades for a full-scale university to be built in the city. Given that we have no Government at Stormont, are this Government ever going to do anything about that?

Answer from Steven Baker

Progress is continuing on the Derry and Strabane city deal following the signing of the heads of terms in February 2021. The deal includes £55 million for the inclusive future fund; various funding streams are available.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Direct action to build a university was not committed.

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Q3 Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower
Northern Ireland Local Government
Context

Coleraine football club was unsuccessful in its levelling-up bid due to the lack of priority index application.

Question

With a Government committed to pitting communities against each other for funding, will the Minister assure me that groups across Northern Ireland will have equitable access to the levelling-up process for future bids?

Answer from Steven Baker

The idea that there is any kind of pitting of communities against one another is really quite ridiculous. We are working extremely hard to improve life in Northern Ireland for everyone, and right across the whole UK.

Not addressed: Assurance on equitable access was not provided.

How: Dismissive Language, Changing Subject

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