§ Mr. McGradyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding the breakdown of negotiations between the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland and the London Refurbishing Company Ltd.; and what action he intends to take to retrieve this loss of employment opportunity in the Greater Belfast area.
§ Mr. ViggersIt is not the policy nor the usual practice of the Industrial Development Board to comment on 757W negotiations carried out in confidence with companies, whatever the outcome of those negotiations. However, in this case it is already a matter of public record that the Industrial Development Board has declined to provide selective assistance to the London Refurbishing Co. Ltd. to purchase the ex-DeLorean factory in Dunmurry and to establish a project involving the manufacture of furniture. It is also a matter of public record that several concerns, including the undischarged bankruptcy of the project's promoter and his convictions for a number of serious criminal offences, led the board to conclude that the project should not be offered selective assistance. The ex-DeLorean factory is now being offered for sale on the open market. The Industrial Development Board will continue its intensive efforts to promote new employment opportunities in the Greater Belfast area and indeed in all areas of Northern Ireland.