Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Blackman Excerpts
Wednesday 2nd April 2014

(10 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Rosie Cooper. Not here.

Bob Blackman Portrait Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)
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Given that getting a job is the most important element in alleviating cost of living problems, will my right hon. Friend elucidate the measures that the Northern Ireland Office has taken to promote private sector investment so that new firms come into Northern Ireland?

Lord Robathan Portrait Mr Robathan
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My hon. Friend will know that last June an economic pact was signed by the Northern Ireland Executive and others that looked forward to a rebalanced economy with more private sector jobs. In the last year some 10,000 jobs have been created in the private sector. As I have said, we are expecting another 13,000 this year, and 23,000 new jobs over the next year.[Official Report, 28 April 2014, Vol. 579, c. 10MC.]