Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she last met the (a) CEO and (b) Chair of the British Business Bank to discuss how that organisation can more effectively support Northern Ireland businesses; and if she will make statement.

I regularly hold discussions with representatives of the British Business Bank in my role as Chair of the Joint Ministerial Task Force on banking and access to finance.

The Task Force has discussed how Northern Ireland business benefits from the British Business Bank schemes and will continue to explore how these measures can be delivered in the most effective way in Northern Ireland.