Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many officials in her Department were working on the Trade and Investment Hub with a focus on Northern Ireland on 20 October 2023.

In 2022 the Department for Business and Trade established a trade and investment hub in Northern Ireland.

There are currently ten officials working in the hub, led by a senior civil servant. Roles include leads for key Northern Ireland sectors, such as advanced technology and manufacturing, life and health sciences, agriculture, food and drink and the creative industries.

The team work closely with local partners and are dedicated to ensuring businesses across Northern Ireland have access to DBT services, help businesses understand what trade opportunities are available to them, and ensure Northern Ireland business interests are represented in trade policy.