Oral Answers to Questions

William Bain Excerpts

Wednesday 2nd April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Villiers]

The papal visit to London was extremely successful, and I have every confidence that the security situation will make a papal visit to Northern Ireland entirely possible. Whether such an invitation is extended is obviously a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive, but I think it would be a very positive step if the Pope were to visit Northern Ireland.

[Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East) (Lab)]

2. What recent assessment she has made of the effect of the Government’s economic policies on the cost of living in Northern Ireland.

[Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab)]

6. What recent assessment she has made of the effect of the Government’s economic policies on the cost of living in Northern Ireland.

[Mr Bain]

Great minds obviously think alike. In North Antrim and South Down 40% of workers are paid less than the living wage, and across the Province the levels of part-time workers, particularly women, on poverty pay are shocking. In fair pay fortnight, can the Minister tell the House whether he will offer incentives for firms to pay the living wage, so that we can tackle one of the major causes of this Government’s cost of living crisis in Northern Ireland?

[Mr Robathan]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the greatest reason for the economic crisis in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom is the appalling economic legacy left us by the previous Government. I am surprised that he does not welcome, for instance, the recently published Northern Ireland Centre for Economic Policy spring outlook predicting that the local economy will grow by 2.8% in 2014 and that over 13,000 new jobs will be created this year in Northern Ireland. That is a fantastic thing to welcome. It is through decent employment that people are lifted out of poverty.