Northern Ireland: Corporation Tax

Lord Reid of Cardowan Excerpts

Monday 15th October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Reid of Cardowan]

My Lords, of course this is an extremely complex question, not least because of the implications, as the Minister pointed out, of the Azores judgment and the potential burden on the Exchequer of Northern Ireland. In all these deliberations, will the Government bear in mind that Northern Ireland truly is a unique case, not only because of its border with another sovereign state—it is the only nation in the United Kingdom to have one—but because of the decades of very difficult and dangerous circumstances through which its people have come and because of the economy’s and employment’s ultra-high dependency on public expenditure in Northern Ireland? Will the Government at least look for some additional spark to move the dynamism of the private sector in Northern Ireland for the benefit of all the people there?

[Lord Newby]

The Government absolutely acknowledge that Northern Ireland is a unique case. That is why, while the whole issue of regional aid in the EU is being looked at at the moment, the Government are working very closely with Northern Ireland officials to consider how best to make the case for Northern Ireland receiving assisted-area coverage over and above that which would normally be provided for the rest of the UK.