Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

David Simpson Excerpts
Wednesday 12th December 2018

(5 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Penrose Portrait John Penrose
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In the meetings that I have held so far, I have been hugely impressed by the skilled and stable workforce in Northern Ireland. I have also been impressed by its world-leading research—for example, in the precision medicine centre that I visited at Queen’s in Belfast—and by the strong sectoral abilities in cyber-security, life sciences and aerospace. We are doing a great deal and we need to continue to do so to promote that economic growth.

David Simpson Portrait David Simpson (Upper Bann) (DUP)
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The Minister will be aware in recent times of the success that companies have had across the globe in the agri-food sector in Northern Ireland from China to Taiwan, Australia and Dubai. There is perhaps a chance of hosting a conference in Northern Ireland to promote the agri-food business and business as a whole. Is that something in which he would be interested?

John Penrose Portrait John Penrose
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The short answer is yes. If the hon. Gentleman brings me the details, I will be delighted to discuss them.