Swann Champions Airport-Antrim-Lisburn Railway in the Commons

Following a statement on Regional Growth, South Antrim MP Robin Swann raised the need for funding a railway line to Belfast International Airport, connecting Lisburn and Antrim, to Treasury Minister Darren Jones MP.

Mr Swann said to the Minister:

“The statement says that stronger transport links are crucial, and the Department for Transport has already paid, through the Union connectivity fund, for a feasibility study on the reopening of the Lisburn-Antrim rail line, which would connect to Belfast International airport in my constituency. Unfortunately, they have already told me that they cannot allocate funding until the next spending review is announced, so they have beaten the Chief Secretary to that answer.”

The South Antrim MP went on the highlight the Barnett consequential due for Northern Ireland as a result of the huge investment into railways in Great Britain:

“Given that the £15.6 billion that has been allocated today roughly equates to £450 million as a Barnett consequential, would he agree that investment in that Lisburn-Antrim-Belfast International line would be a good investment in Northern Ireland railways?”

In his response, Minister Jones referred the importance of funding infrastructure across all parts of the UK and that more information will be published at the upcoming spending review:

"The hon. Member rightly alludes to the fact that because the Labour Government are increasing investment here in Westminster for the whole country, the nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland benefit, both through Barnett and direct spending from this Government, to make sure we are investing in every nation and region of the country. We have already seen significant amounts of funding—I think the highest level of funding since devolution began—into Northern Ireland, as well as Scotland and Wales, and further details will be published next week at the spending review."

Mr Swann previously asked a question to the Department of Transport on the Union connectivity fund and the Department highlighted the funding they had provided towards the feasibility study. The results of this study are due to be published by the Department for Infrastructure later in the summer.