Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Shannon Excerpts
Wednesday 2nd April 2025

(2 days, 22 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jim Shannon Portrait Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
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Can the Secretary of State further outline what representations he has made to Cabinet colleagues to ensure that the UK industrial strategy pays more than lip service to the position of Northern Ireland’s manufacturing industry, as seen in aerospace, shipbuilding and defence, which has a global reputation for being top-class? How will he advocate for our own Government to invest in those sectors even further and even better?

Hilary Benn Portrait Hilary Benn
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I have already pointed out examples of that investment. To Harland and Wolff, I would add the order that is going to Thales to make more missiles for Ukraine, which will create an additional 200 jobs. As the answers that I have given demonstrate, Northern Ireland has enormous strengths, and the task of the strategy, and for all of us, is to build on them.