Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Greg Hands and Owen Paterson

Wednesday 9th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) (Con)]

5. What recent discussions he has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive on economic development in Northern Ireland.

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr Owen Paterson)]

The Minister of State and I met last week with the Exchequer Secretary and Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Deputy First Minister, Minister of Finance and Personnel, and Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Finance to discuss the Government paper on rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy and promoting investment and growth.

[Greg Hands]

Given the coming corporation tax cut, the national insurance contributions holiday for small businesses and the avoidance of Labour’s national insurance tax increase next month, does the Secretary of State agree that this Government are restoring Northern Ireland’s reputation as a destination for inward investment, which was badly damaged by the previous Government?

[Mr Paterson]

I endorse my hon. Friend’s comments. We had an excellent meeting at Hillsborough only last week with a number of major businesses, at which we saw significant investment coming in from Denmark. I am pleased to say that our plans were endorsed by a coalition of significant business organisations last week.