Ulster Unionist Party Finance spokesperson, Dr. Steve Aiken OBE MLA, has called on the Treasury to provide urgent and full clarification on the announcement earlier today to pause its’ funding commitment to City and Growth Deals across Northern Ireland.

Dr. Aiken said.

“This announcement has come as a total shock to everyone in Northern Ireland, particularly those who have been working to develop and implement projects under this essential funding.

“The decision to pause the funding commitment creates a number of urgent questions which require immediate clarification.

“Across Northern Ireland there are many projects, worth tens of millions of pounds, which are in various stages of development, some are in construction as we speak.

“The Government need to urgently clarify if existing projects are impacted by this decision, and if not, at what stage of planning or delivery will this decision impact on existing projects. It would be ridiculous to consider that this government would renege on existing contracts and agreements that have already cost many millions of pounds.

“I am very concerned that, once again, the new Government at Westminster seem to have made a decision that has a huge impact on many thousands of people, without seeming to have engaged with any of those who will be impacted.”

Derry and Strabane District Council Ulster Unionist Alderman, Darren Guy, added.

“The latest UK Government decision to pause commitments to all City and Growth Deals within Northern Ireland as part of its comprehensive spending review; is totally regressive; has come as a complete shock and is totally demoralising to those who have worked tirelessly to deliver a deal to regenerate parts of Londonderry and Strabane. These two areas of high deprivation would have witnessed regeneration, upskilling and University expansion as part of the deal.

“Derry City and Strabane District Council's planned City Deal Finance signing event for Wednesday morning in the Guildhall, has now been cancelled, with no idea at this stage of when, or if the City and Growth Deal will be resurrected.

“The projects planned for Londonderry and Strabane, which were already amended due to inflationary rises in costs to materials, will almost certainly increase the chances of more unforeseen costs being applied if we ever do receive the ‘go-ahead’ for these deals to continue.

“I would call on the Government to rethink this decision and reinstate the full City and Growth Deal immediately.”