§ 12. Mr. Nigel EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received concerning job creation in Northern Ireland. [20419]
§ Mr. AncramIn the past six months, there have been numerous representations on job creation at ministerial level. The approaches have been from Members of Parliament, district councils, economic development groups and business and voluntary organisations. The representations have mainly concerned the level and location of inward investment.
§ Mr. EvansI understand that unemployment has dropped in Northern Ireland by 750,000 since 1992 and that confidence in Northern Ireland is such that, since the ceasefire, no inward investment projects have been lost to Northern Ireland. I also understand that the rate of inward investment in Northern Ireland is so tremendous that the people there get three times their per capita share. Does my right hon. Friend agree that, if we could re-establish the ceasefire in Northern Ireland, confidence would grow further and the boost to jobs would benefit all the people of Northern Ireland in all sectors of industry?
§ Mr. AncramI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his comments. It is self-evident that, if there is a credible ceasefire, confidence to invest will be much greater. At the same time, it is important to recognise the success of the Northern Ireland economy at this time. As my hon. Friend says, unemployment is at a low level and, in fact, is at its lowest level since May 1981. Employment, which is perhaps as important, is at its highest level ever and has risen faster than in the rest of the United Kingdom throughout the 1990s. It is important that we get the message across to potential investors that Northern Ireland is a good place to invest for many reasons, not least because of the quality of the work force.
§ Mr. StottWhile, of course, I welcome the efforts to create jobs in Northern Ireland, will the Minister take on board the serious problem that faces Shorts in Northern Ireland as a consequence of the liquidation of Fokker and the potential loss of more than 1,000 jobs? Can the Minister tell the House what the Department will do to try to mitigate the worst effects of that awful catastrophe?
§ Mr. AncramI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for mentioning that problem. We regret the demise of the long-established partnership between Shorts and Fokker, and we recognise the impact that that will have on Shorts. Government agencies will do all that they reasonably can to assist Shorts to minimise the effect of the situation on employment at Shorts.
§ Mr. Ian BruceDoes my right hon. Friend believe that the inward investment in Northern Ireland is greater than that coming into the Republic of Ireland? Does he agree that that is not a reflection on the ability of the Irish people in both parts of the island of Ireland, but because investors in Northern Ireland do not have to worry about the social chapter while in the south they do?
§ Mr. AncramI am grateful to my hon. Friend for making that point. There is no doubt that the existence of the social chapter must act as a disincentive, as against the situation that exists in Northern Ireland.