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First Report - Investment in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee HC 85 Published 8 November 2022
Report Status
Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations
12 items (12 recs)
Government Response
AI assessment · 12 of 12 classified
Accepted 5
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 5
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Recommendations

12 results
1 Acknowledged
Para 14

NI received proportionally less than Scotland, Wales and England in the first round of levelling...

Recommendation
NI received proportionally less than Scotland, Wales and England in the first round of levelling up. There has been no satisfactory explanation from Government for this under allocation. This should be rectified urgently. The Levelling Up Fund White Paper acknowledged … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states that the first round of the Levelling Up Fund saw every bid on the Northern Ireland shortlist selected, with the exception of two bids that were ruled out due to deliverability concerns. Officials have engaged extensively with stakeholders and are keen to increase collaboration.
Northern Ireland Office
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2 Accepted
Para 17

We note the Government’s intention to ensure that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and funding...

Recommendation
We note the Government’s intention to ensure that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and funding from the Multiply scheme match by 2024–25 the level allocated under the European ‘Structural Funds’ (ESF and ERDF). Service providers need certainty, however, and therefore … Read more
Government Response Summary
DLUHC officials have engaged extensively across sectors in Northern Ireland to seek input into the UKSPF Northern Ireland Investment Plan. The plan sets out the amount of UKSPF funding, including Multiply, that has been indicatively allocated to interventions in Northern Ireland for the financial years 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Northern Ireland Office
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3 Accepted in Part
Para 22

We acknowledge the interest that the Government will have in the allocation of funding and...

Recommendation
We acknowledge the interest that the Government will have in the allocation of funding and the delivery of Shared Prosperity Fund projects in all parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland. We are pleased, however, to see that Whitehall has … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states that the UKSPF Northern Ireland Partnership Group has concluded its initial work, and they are reviewing its remit and membership for the delivery phase, including the possible establishment of thematic sub-groups. They will offer Northern Ireland Civil Service officials the opportunity to participate and intend to commission NI Executive Departments or their arms-length bodies.
Northern Ireland Office
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4 Acknowledged
Para 28

We are encouraged by the progress of the Belfast Region City Deal under this funding...

Recommendation
We are encouraged by the progress of the Belfast Region City Deal under this funding scheme. However, the Government must now set out how it plans to provide ongoing support, including day to day resourcing, to current and future projects. … Read more
Government Response Summary
The Government is continuing to provide support to ensure the successful delivery of all four Northern Ireland City and Growth Deals, including regular discussions with the Deals and ongoing engagement through governance structures such as the City and Growth Deal Delivery Board. It will explore how to increase engagement with local stakeholders.
Northern Ireland Office
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5 Accepted
Para 32

The commitment to funding under the New Decade New Approach agreement was instrumental in: re-establishing...

Recommendation
The commitment to funding under the New Decade New Approach agreement was instrumental in: re-establishing the Executive in 2020; the allocation of funding for health workers’ pay and public services and securing the Executive’s finances on a sustainable footing. The … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Northern Ireland Office already reports on the implementation of NDNA funding through a Written Ministerial Statement published every six months, detailing financial commitments.
Northern Ireland Office
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6 Accepted

We urge the Government to publish up to date information on the delivery of the...

Recommendation
We urge the Government to publish up to date information on the delivery of the New Deal for Northern Ireland funding package. We also encourage the Government to ensure that this funding is ringfenced, so it can be used to … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government confirms that New Deal funding provided to Northern Ireland Executive Departments and UK Government Departments will be ringfenced. They note that nearly half of the £400 million has been allocated, including £23 million for the Department for the Economy, and they will make further decisions on the remainder of the funding.
Northern Ireland Office
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7 Accepted
Para 41

We are pleased with the Government’s decision to set up a new DIT hub in...

Recommendation
We are pleased with the Government’s decision to set up a new DIT hub in Belfast and we acknowledge the economic benefits this could bring to Northern Ireland. However, we urge the Government to publish up to date information on … Read more
Government Response Summary
DIT established a trade and investment hub based in Belfast in March last year and recruitment is underway. The team is dedicated to ensuring that Northern Ireland businesses are aware of the support services available through DIT’s Export Strategy. At the Autumn Statement £2 million was announced for the Department for International Trade to work with local partners including Invest NI to host a trade and investment event in Northern Ireland in 2023.
Northern Ireland Office
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8 Accepted in Part

The Protocol means Northern Ireland occupies a unique position among the four nations of the...

Recommendation
The Protocol means Northern Ireland occupies a unique position among the four nations of the UK: with its feet in both the EU single and UK Internal Markets, it is attractive to some investors; while the bureaucracy involved in maintaining … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges NI's unique position but states that separate explanatory memoranda specific to how trade agreements interact with the Protocol are unnecessary, and that all provisions of the UK’s free trade agreements co- exist with provisions within the Protocol. It mentions support through the UK Trader Scheme and Trader Support Service.
Northern Ireland Office
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9 Acknowledged
Para 55

The university cap leads many Northern Ireland students to leave to obtain high- level qualifications,...

Recommendation
The university cap leads many Northern Ireland students to leave to obtain high- level qualifications, which they then take into employment elsewhere in the UK or overseas. This places a handbrake on the Northern Ireland economy, with international and other … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of addressing the cap on university numbers but redirects responsibility to the Northern Ireland Executive. They highlight existing investments in the Skill Up programme and ongoing discussions.
Northern Ireland Office
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10 Acknowledged

We understand the importance of education and skills in growing Northern Ireland’s economy and providing...

Recommendation
We understand the importance of education and skills in growing Northern Ireland’s economy and providing jobs for people in all parts of society. Therefore, we recommend that current and future Government investment, through the UKSPF and City and Growth Deals … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states that skills and inclusive growth are key to City and Growth Deals in NI, and that 'People and Skills' is a core UKSPF investment priority, but does not commit to matching EU funding.
Northern Ireland Office
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11 Accepted
Para 64

We acknowledge the importance of building sustainable, viable industries to secure Northern Ireland’s economic future...

Recommendation
We acknowledge the importance of building sustainable, viable industries to secure Northern Ireland’s economic future in the net zero era. We ask the Government to set out its investment and policy plans for Northern Ireland to enable research into and … Read more
Government Response Summary
The UK Government is committed to advancements in the green economy, in order to achieve Net Zero by 2050. The UK Hydrogen Strategy set out by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will grant almost £1 billion of government funding. With energy being a devolved matter, the Department for the Economy published their Energy Strategy, ‘The Path to Net Zero Energy’, in December 2021.
Northern Ireland Office
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12 Acknowledged

Functioning societies need people who have the skills to deliver services in all areas of...

Recommendation
Functioning societies need people who have the skills to deliver services in all areas of the economy. These people need to be paid competitively - and fairly. We acknowledge the importance of equal access to opportunities for men and women, … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states that local partners should shape the skills element of City or Growth Deals, but together with the Northern Ireland Executive departments, will support Deals to find complementarity with existing skills and training initiatives. It also mentions £15m invested in Skill Up using funds from the New Deal for Northern Ireland fund.
Northern Ireland Office
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