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Written question asked by Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance) on Monday, 19 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 January 2026. It was answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 January 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Local Growth Fund: Northern Ireland

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department will conduct an impact assessment of the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to the Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland, including on the loss of community and voluntary sector services in areas of deprivation.

Answer

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government is working in close partnership with the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Executive designing an Investment Plan for delivery of the new Local Growth Fund. The Local Growth Fund represents a significant step change in UK investment strategy, supporting each nation and region to deliver long-term infrastructure for sustained economic growth.

The devolved governments, including the Northern Ireland Executive have also received substantial budget increases through the Barnett formula as a result of greater funding for English local authorities. This provides the devolved governments with additional flexibility enabling them to target resource to their priorities.

We appreciate the urgency of providing certainty about Local Growth Fund delivery and acknowledge the pressures facing the voluntary and community sector. The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has therefore agreed with the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Executive to commission economic inactivity delivery for 2026-27, and engagement with project deliverers is already underway. In addition, MHCLG are also providing additional flexibility to projects to use any UK Shared Prosperity Fund budget that remains unspent at the end of March 2026, for activities up to September 2026.

The Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Executive are also planning engagement from early 2026 to collaborate with the sector to design economic inactivity support from 2027 onwards.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
106684
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Disadvantaged Northern Ireland Civil society Impact assessments UK Shared Prosperity Fund Local Growth Fund
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk