§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made with the reduction of departmental and other bodies concerned with economic development and the promotion of enterprises.
§ Mr. Giles ShawBodies in Northern Ireland concerned with industrial development and promotion were included in the recent review of non-departmental 467W public bodies conducted by Sir Leo Pliatzky. Since the results of the review were published I have announced the winding-up of the Northern Ireland Agricultural Trust, by 31 March 1981, with a consequential reduction in public expenditure of £0.4 million per annum. With regard to the Northern Ireland Development Agency and the Local Enterprise Development Unit, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Northwich (Mr. Goodlad) on 1 April 1980—[Vol. 982, c. 190]—in which I indicated that these two bodies would continue to be involved in the Northern Ireland industrial development effort in close cooperation with the Department of Commerce. I am satisfied that the Industries Development Advisory Committee, which corresponds to the industrial development advisory boards in Great Britain, is performing a valuable function in bringing independent opinion to bear on the provision of selective financial assistance for individual investments in Northern Ireland, and that it should continue in existence.