Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Evans Excerpts
Wednesday 6th July 2011

(13 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Owen Paterson Portrait Mr Paterson
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I am grateful to the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. The police are conducting a review and a serious investigation into the disturbances last week, and it would be wrong to pre-empt what they discover. However, once we have the information from the police, we will make further decisions.

Chris Evans Portrait Chris Evans (Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op)
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2. What assessment he has made of the effects on the service sector in Northern Ireland of reductions in Government spending.

Lord Swire Portrait The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr Hugo Swire)
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Tackling the deficit remains the Government’s biggest priority, and Northern Ireland has its part to play in achieving that outcome. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to boost private sector growth and investment and to help rebalance the economy.

Chris Evans Portrait Chris Evans
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I am sure that the Minister will have seen that 59,500 people are signed on the dole in Northern Ireland. Whenever anyone losses their job, it is a tragedy for their family and causes hurt and pain. What are the Government going to do about it?

Lord Swire Portrait Mr Swire
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I welcome the hon. Gentleman’s interest in Northern Ireland, and I hope that it will continue. I hope also that he will join me in celebrating the jobs that the service sector in Northern Ireland has attracted. The New York stock exchange has attracted 400 new jobs; Citigroup financial services will attract 500 jobs over the next five years; and the law firm Allen and Overy has attracted 300 jobs in Belfast. To answer his question directly, I would say that Northern Ireland is a great place for the service industries. It is open and we want more investment, and I hope that he and his party will join us in making that happen.