§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many foreign firms have failed in Northern Ireland during the past year; and how much public investment has been lost.
§ Mr. Adam ButlerOn the basis of the information available, it is estimated that six foreign-based manufacturing companies closed all their operations in Northern Ireland during 1980.
It is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to calculate the total amount of Government assistance paid to these companies. It would, however, be wrong to say 122W that such assistance has been lost since the companies involved have provided valuable job opportunities going back over many years.