Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Economic Growth

Wednesday 21 May 2025 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial expenditure on defence has increased, benefiting Northern Ireland's defence sector.
  • The new Grand Central station in Belfast is described as a significant piece of infrastructure.
  • There is controversy regarding Irish language signage at the new Grand Central station in Belfast.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Katrina Murray Lab Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch
Defence Economy Northern Ireland
Context

Assessment of economic growth adequacy in Northern Ireland, referencing the history of advanced engineering industries.

Question

What assessment has been made of the adequacy of economic growth in Northern Ireland? Northern Ireland has a long and proud history of advanced engineering industries. What discussions have been had with the Ministry of Defence to ensure that companies such as Spirit AeroSystems have access to the Government’s increased investment in defence?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)

I am sure that my hon. Friend, and the whole House, welcomes the recently announced increase in defence expenditure. Northern Ireland has a strong and significant defence sector, and Spirit is part of that. The Secretary of State for Defence has made it very clear that he wants the increased expenditure to result in more jobs and more orders for British companies.

Answered
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Q2 Gregory Campbell DUP East Londonderry
Economy Northern Ireland
Context

Discussion on the impact of physical connectivity, referencing the new Grand Central station in Belfast.

Question

Economic growth will be supported by physical connectivity. One example is the new Grand Central station in Belfast, where there is some controversy over Irish language signage. The Secretary of State has commented that there are “so many more important things” in which to be involved, but setting that view aside, can he confirm that if there were no Executive at Stormont, he as Secretary of State would be in a position to make decisions on the station and other equally important issues?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)

The new Grand Central station is a magnificent piece of infrastructure, and I recommend any Members who have not yet had a chance to visit it to do so. I am not contemplating for one second that there will not be an Executive in place. Perhaps the single most important contribution that the Executive can make to continued economic growth in Northern Ireland is to stay in place and give confidence to those whom we are all working hard to encourage to come and invest in Northern Ireland’s economic future.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific scenario of no Executive at Stormont was not directly addressed.

How: Not Contemplating For One Second, The Single Most Important Contribution Is The Executive Staying In Place

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