Wrightbus (Ballymena) Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office
Monday 30th September 2019

(4 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Julian Smith Portrait Julian Smith
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The administrator is responsible for the sales process. As I mentioned earlier, there may be a number of things that the administrator and others will want to look at in the coming months, but the immediate task in hand is to find a buyer and to ensure that the Government, Invest NI and all other interested parties support that process.

Maria Caulfield Portrait Maria Caulfield (Lewes) (Con)
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Given the extent of the job losses in Ballymena and the fact that this company had orders in May for 20 hydrogen-powered buses for TfL, each worth £500,000, does the Secretary of State agree that this is a viable business, if the issue of the donations is set to one side, and that the cash-flow issue around donations to Church charities needs investigating?

Julian Smith Portrait Julian Smith
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The technology and the opportunity for Wrightbus, with a successful buyer and with a vision for the future, are very strong. I think we have addressed the issue of loans and other matters that are for the future.