HC Deb 16 March 1992 vol 205 cc794-5W
Mr. Irvine

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the achievements since 1979 of the Department of Economic Development for Northern Ireland.

Mr. Brooke

The Department of Economic Development has developed policies to stimulate the development of enterprise, to promote a more enterprising culture and to encourage the competitiveness and growth of small firms.

Since the inception of the Industrial Development Board in September 1982 new investment projects worth a total of £ 2,740 million have been secured, an overall total of 41,446 new jobs have been promoted and 69,467 jobs safeguarded. Since 1979 LEDU, the small firms agency, has promoted 42,476 jobs.

Harland and Wolff plc was privatised in September 1989 and Shorts Brothers in October 1989.

On 2 April 1990 the Department launched the Training and Employment Agency which has 1,700 staff and a budget of £ 172 million. It assists employers to improve the competitive position of Northern Ireland companies and delivers programmes designed to provide skills and abilities to unemployed people and those seeking to enter the labour market.

Against the background of plans for completion of the single European market, the Department adopted a new strategy which was set out in "Competing in the 1990s—the Key to Growth". The new strategy changes the emphasis of Government assistance for business away from grants for capital expenditure towards measures designed to improve business preformance in areas such as marketing, research, exporting, design and innovation.

In March 1992 the Department of Economic Development published a comprehensive research and development strategy for Northern Ireland—"Innovation 2000"—and established a new industrial research and technology unit to improve the competitiveness of industry and strengthen the economy.

The Electricity (NI) Order 1992 made on 11 February 1992, provides for the reorganisation and privatisation of the electricity supply industry in Northern Ireland. Proceeds from the sale of the four generating stations, subject to audit, will amount to about £ 353 million. The sale of Ballylumford power station will lead to the construction of a gas pipeline between Northern Ireland and Scotland and agreement has also been reached to construct a 240 MW electricity link between these two parts of the United Kingdom.

An estimated 15 per cent. reduction in energy consumption by the public sector has been achieved since 1984.

The Government have considerably strengthened the law against unlawful discrimination in employment in Northern Ireland through the introduction of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. It represents the most radical anti-discrimination law ever enacted in the United Kingdom. Through the monitoring information which has been gathered and published by the Commission, a clearer picture has emerged of the extent of the problem of inequality in the work force. Already, a small but helpful improvement in the situation is evident.