§ 15 Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next expects to meet representatives of the Northern Ireland Development Agency.
Mr. ConeannonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans at present to meet the Northern Ireland Development Agency. I met the agency on 26th January 1977 and will have such further meetings or contacts with it as may be appropriate.
§ Mr. CanavanInstead of the Government merely handing out millions of pounds of public money to multinational companies such as Regna, which pocketed the money and then closed down its factory in Northern Ireland, would it not be better to increase the Northern Ireland Development Agency budget in order to extend public enterprise through developing the Northern Ireland economy, thereby ensuring greater security of jobs for 1625 the workers and possibly better community relations as well?
§ Mr. ConcannonWe have increased the budget of the NIDA, but there is a principle of non-interference in the day-to-day operations of the agency. By statute it is an independent agency, and we should preserve that. However, with regard to my hon. Friend's first question about increasing the agency's budget, we have recently done that.