Ministerial Correction

Monday 21st May 2012 Ministerial Corrections

Monday 21 May 2012

Corporation Tax

Monday 21st May 2012 Ministerial Corrections

The following is the answer given by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), to a question from the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) during Northern Ireland Question Time on 16 May 2012.

[Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con)]

I know that the Secretary of State is, like me, a great believer in low taxes to stimulate the economy. What discussions has he had with the devolved Administration in Northern Ireland, and with the Treasury, to try to lower the corporation tax rate in Northern Ireland?

[Mr Paterson]

My hon. Friend will be pleased to hear—and the Leader of the Opposition will be delighted to hear—that, thanks to the reductions in corporation tax introduced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor, 57,000 more people are in jobs in Northern Ireland than were in jobs before the election. The ministerial group is working closely with Ministers in the devolved Administration, the Northern Ireland Office and the Treasury to establish whether further steps could be taken to reduce corporation tax and devolve it to Northern Ireland, and we will report later in the summer.

[Official Report, 16 May 2012, Vol. 545, c. 538.]

Letter of correction from Owen Paterson:

An error has been identified in the oral answer given on 16 May 2012 to the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies).

The correct answer should have been:

[Mr Paterson]

My hon. Friend will be pleased to hear—and the Leader of the Opposition will be delighted to hear—that, thanks to the reductions in corporation tax introduced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor, 27,000 more people are in jobs in Northern Ireland than were in jobs before the election. The ministerial group is working closely with Ministers in the devolved Administration, the Northern Ireland Office and the Treasury to establish whether further steps could be taken to reduce corporation tax and devolve it to Northern Ireland, and we will report later in the summer.