Oral Answers to Questions

Gavin Robinson Excerpts
Wednesday 20th April 2016

(8 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Theresa Villiers Portrait Mrs Villiers
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To do that, we are delivering economic stability, and we are cutting national insurance contributions for 3.4 million self-employed people. We are also working with the Northern Ireland Executive through the economic pact to deliver things such as our start-up loans programme for young entrepreneurs and through the taskforce on access to banking, which has delivered £60 million in business finance.

Gavin Robinson Portrait Gavin Robinson (Belfast East) (DUP)
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At a meeting yesterday involving the oil and gas group, Harland and Wolff from my constituency railed against the religious observance of EU regulations that is required of it, unlike its competitors across the European Union. How can we redress the balance so that it can compete equally with its competitors across the European Union?

Theresa Villiers Portrait Mrs Villiers
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The Government are certainly doing all they can to ensure that the UK, including Northern Ireland, is one of the most competitive places in the world to do business, which is one reason why we have reduced corporation tax. We are bearing down on unnecessary regulation. I will certainly look into the matters the hon. Gentleman raises in relation to the industry.