Minister questioned on Levelling Up and Northern Ireland

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• Inquiry: Levelling Up and Northern Ireland
• Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Witnesses

Wednesday 27 April 2022

At 3.30pm

• Neil O’Brien MP, Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, UK Government
• Sue Gray, Second Permanent Secretary, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

The Committee investigates how effective the Government’s plans might be in boosting NI’s economy, which has long experienced lower levels of productivity and employment than the rest of the UK. Northern Ireland has also historically received less capital funding from the UK Government than the other three UK nations: £1,325 per person compared with the UK average of £1,407 per person.

MPs are likely to question the Minister on what the UK Government sees as the main challenges facing NI’s economy and how the White Paper can support levelling up in the region.

Mr O’Brien is also likely to be quizzed on the Government’s pledge to boost research and development funding in NI, targeted at specific industries such a defence and cyber security.

The Committee also examines the UK Government’s policy of setting up a freeport in NI and scrutinise its claim that the region will see a net gain in funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund, compared to capital funding the nation received from the European Union.

Further information

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