Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Northern Ireland Executive on a freeport designation for Northern Ireland.

Freeports will be national hubs for international trade, innovation and commerce, regenerating communities across the UK; attracting new businesses, spreading jobs, investment and opportunity to towns and cities across the country.

We want to ensure that the whole of the UK can benefit, and we are working with HM Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, as well as working constructively with the Northern Ireland Executive, to establish at least one Freeport in Northern Ireland as soon as possible.