§ 9. John Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made with the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative. [141223]
§ Mr. Pearson:On 19 February 2003 I announced details of a five year £2.1 billion Strategic Investment Programme. A Strategic Investment Board has been established and made considerable progress in improving the performance of Northern Ireland's capital expenditure programme. It is actively involved in many key projects, including eight which it sponsors directly.
In addition six former security sites have been made available for social and economic regeneration. One site is to he sold with the proceeds ring-fenced for Reinvestment and Reform Initiative purposes. An Urban Regeneration Company has been established to regenerate the Ebrington Barracks site and consultation is under way to determine the best possible use for the other four sites.
The Government remains committed to reflecting the intentions of the former Executive to drive forward a programme to improve our public services through reform and modernisation.