Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Conor Burns and James Daly

Wednesday 9th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Greg Smith (Buckingham) (Con)]

3. What steps his Department is taking to promote trade and investment in Northern Ireland.

[James Daly (Bury North) (Con)]

5. What steps his Department is taking to promote trade and investment in Northern Ireland.

[The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Conor Burns)]

May I say to my hon. Friend the Member for Buckingham (Greg Smith) that it is particularly good to see him in his place today?

I recently attended the Northern Ireland Day at the Dubai Expo, where I met many Northern Irish businesses already exporting globally, including White’s Oats, Kiverco and Greenfields. We also had the opportunity to meet with two sovereign wealth funds, which, I am pleased to report to the House, have accepted our invitation to come to Northern Ireland and look at the opportunities to invest in Northern Ireland as part of their programme of investing in the United Kingdom.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Conor Burns and James Daly

Wednesday 27th October 2021 Commons Chamber

[The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Conor Burns)]

The Prime Minister has been very clear that our levelling-up ambitions are not about points on a compass but about people and communities throughout the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. We are delivering for Northern Ireland through our plan for jobs, our £600 million city and growth deal programme, and through the new deal for Northern Ireland, which will fund the promotion of Northern Ireland trade and investment globally.

[James Daly]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is vital that, for all the Government’s support for enterprise, innovation and new investment in Northern Ireland, they must not be frustrated and deterred by a second, unnecessary layer of bureaucracy?

[Conor Burns]

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. It is absolutely the legitimate interest of the United Kingdom Government to deliver prosperity and opportunity for every part of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, and we will work in partnership with others, including the Northern Ireland Executive, to do just that.