Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to stimulate economic growth in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Kris Hopkins
The Government’s long-term economic plan is working for Northern Ireland. Last year legislation was passed to allow the devolution of corporation tax rate-setting powers which has the potential to boost investment and could bring benefits for an estimated 34,000 companies of all sizes in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the value to the economy in Northern Ireland of membership of the EU single market.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
The Government is fulfilling its manifesto commitment to seek a reformed relationship with Europe and then put the results of that negotiation to the people in a referendum.
Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she is taking to promote tourism to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
The promotion of tourism to Northern Ireland is primarily a devolved matter, but I take every opportunity to support it. Northern Ireland is one of the most beautiful parts of the United Kingdom.
I welcome the fact that almost 1.8 million people visited it in 2014, representing a five per cent increase over 2013.
The global media coverage of the G8 summit, which the Prime Minister brought to Fermanagh, and of the Giro d’Italia Grande Partenza, significantly raised Northern Ireland’s profile. The Irish Open at Royal County Down and the return of the Tall Ships to Belfast should attract new visitors.
I am also pleased that the new British-Irish Visa Scheme in China and India will enable visits to both Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland, on a single visa of either country.