Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many times the Joint Ministerial Task Force on Banking and Access to Finance has met since its formation in 2013; and what actions this body has taken.

The Joint Ministerial Task Force on Banking and Access to Finance has formally met twice since its formation and is due to meet again in the autumn. I have also held a number of separate discussions with individual members of the Task Force.

Significant progress has been made on Task Force priorities to encourage the effective operation of the Business Bank; promote the effectiveness of national finance initiatives; and secure the availability of local bank lending data for Northern Ireland. This data, from the British Bankers' Association, was published for the first time on 2 July alongside the update on the economic pact: Building a Prosperous and United Community: One Year On.