Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Promoting Trade and Investment

Wednesday 9 March 2022 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister attended Northern Ireland Day at the Dubai Expo to meet businesses and sovereign wealth funds.
  • Department for International Trade opened a new hub in Belfast and invested 8 million in Invest NI.
  • Government announced additional 250 million to Northern Ireland Executive to help with cost of living.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James Daly
Northern Ireland Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from a need to understand actions taken by the Department to support Northern Ireland's economic growth through international trade.

Question

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

Answer from Conor Burns

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 have accepted our invitation to come to Northern Ireland as part of their programme of investing in the United Kingdom.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or commitments regarding trade and investment promotion were not provided.

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Q2 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Northern Ireland Business & Trade
Context

The concern is about ensuring that Northern Ireland's businesses are given due consideration when the UK negotiates new international trade agreements.

Question

Can he assure me that he is working with his colleagues in the Department for International Trade to ensure that businesses in Northern Ireland which export their products are given full and due consideration in all trade deal negotiations?

Answer from Conor Burns

I am delighted that we have now opened a new Department for International Trade hub in the heart of Belfast. We have put £8 million into Invest NI to help it to promote Northern Ireland abroad. Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom's offer to the world and will benefit fully from our international trade agreements.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No direct assurance or commitment was provided regarding the specific work with DIT for considering Northern Irish businesses in trade deals negotiations.

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Q3 Colum Eastwood Social Democratic & Labour Party Foyle
Economy Northern Ireland
Context

The concern is about the need to cut vehicle excise duty for Northern Ireland residents facing high energy costs.

Question

Will they be quick to cut vehicle excise duty to save people from the soaring costs that are crippling home budgets?

Answer from Conor Burns

On 3 February this year the Government announced that the Northern Ireland Executive will receive an additional £250 million to help them to support households with the cost of living. He mentions tax changes, but it would be imprudent of me as a junior Minister to comment ahead of the Chancellor's making statements to the House.

Not addressed: The specific ask about cutting vehicle excise duty was not addressed; instead, the answerer referred to a different support measure for households and avoided commenting on tax changes before the Chancellor's announcement.

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Q4 James Sunderland
Transport Northern Ireland
Context

The concern is about ensuring that efforts are made to secure the return of the World Rally Championship in Belfast.

Question

Can the Minister please confirm that we will pull out all the stops for 2023?

Answer from Conor Burns

We did extensive work with the Department for the Economy and the hon. Member for North Antrim was heavily involved in lobbying on that. We think it would be a great thing to bring to Northern Ireland and we are determined to build on the work we have already done to see whether that is possible next year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No direct confirmation or commitment to pull out all stops was provided.

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Q5 Hilary Benn Lab Leeds South
Northern Ireland Brexit
Context

The concern is about the differentiation of goods in relation to the protocol's impact on Northern Ireland.

Question

Can we be clear that the Government are seeking an SPS agreement with the EU that differentiates the goods that are at risk of going into the EU, and those that are not?

Answer from Conor Burns

The disruption that the implementation of the protocol is having in Northern Ireland is not sustainable. That is why the Government are committed to finding a negotiated solution.

Not addressed: The specific ask about seeking an SPS agreement was not addressed; instead, the answerer focused on the disruption caused by the current protocol implementation.

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Q6 Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower
Northern Ireland
Context

The concern is about the potential impact of inward investment on Northern Ireland's economic development, specifically regarding Casement Park.

Question

What input or influence have the Secretary of State and his Minister had on the realisation of Casement Park? Could the £1.2 billion returned to the Treasury be used for such projects?

Answer from Conor Burns

We look at a whole range of opportunities for investment in Northern Ireland, to give it the opportunity to attract inward investment and to host international events. That will be a core part of what we are able to do through levelling up, and it is a key thing that the Secretary of State and I have been driving through our city and growth deals.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitment or influence regarding Casement Park was provided; instead, the answerer spoke broadly about investment opportunities and levelling up initiatives.

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