Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Hilary Benn and Alice Macdonald

Wednesday 11th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Hilary Benn]

I do not accept that Northern Ireland has the worst of both worlds. However, the hon. Gentleman is right to draw attention to the issue facing small businesses, highlighted by the FSB report and others, including Lord Murphy’s independent report. As he will have noticed, in the Budget the Chancellor announced a £16.6 million package which will include a comprehensive one-stop-shop regulatory support service to help precisely those businesses to trade more between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

[Alice Macdonald (Norwich North) (Lab/Co-op)]

3. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the defence industrial strategy 2025 on Northern Ireland.