HC Deb 31 March 1994 vol 240 cc961-2W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Industrial Development Board last participated in a joint venture with(a) the Scottish Development Agency and (b) the Southern Irish Development Authority; and if he will make a statement about co-operation by the Industrial Development Board with equivalent organisations in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Mr. Tim Smith

Since 1992 the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland and the Irish Trade Board have participated in a series of joint programmes aimed at stimulating cross-border trade. The programmes have included a series of joint exhibitions to promote sub-contracting opportunities for local companies and joint product promotions outside the island of Ireland. The most recent event was a joint sub-contract exhibition organised in Londonderry in March 1994.

No joint ventures have been entered into with the Irish Development Authority or the Scottish Development Agency.