HC Deb 23 March 1993 vol 221 cc560-1W
Mr. Dykes

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the work of the Department of Economic Development since 1982.

Mr. Atkins

[holding answer 18 March 1993]: The Department of Economic Development has policies to encourage inward investment; to promote the competitiveness of local industry by identifying and removing obstacles to growth, building up management and work-force skills and supporting innovation; to stimulate the development of an enterprise culture and the growth of small firms; to ensure quality of opportunity in employment; and to provide a sound regulatory framework for the conduct of business in Northern Ireland through legislation on companies health and safety at work, consumer protection and industrial relations.

Against the background 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 strategy focuses on activities designed to improve business performance and competitiveness and on helping to grow in a sustained and profitable manner.

All the DED businesses—Industrial Development Board, Local Enterprise Development Unit, Training and Employment Agency, Industrial Research and Technology Unit and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board—have published and are implementing new corporate plans within the framework of the overall strategy.

Since the inception of the Industrial Development Board, in September 1982, investment projects worth a total of £3,011 million have been secured, an overall total of 45,019 new jobs have been promoted and 71,157 jobs safeguarded.

Since 1982 the Local Enterprise Development Unit, LEDU, has offered over £210 million to small businesses in Northern Ireland.

Under its local enterprise programme. LEDU has also assisted the establishment of a network of 34 local enterprise agencies which provide 1.3 million sq. ft. of workspace, housing more than 600 businesses employing 3,200 people.

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

On 2 April 1990 the Department launched the Training and Employment Agency. The agency's aim is to assist economic growth in Northern Ireland by ensuring provision of training and employment services which contribute to companies becoming more competitive and individuals obtaining the skills and competence needed to secure worthwhile employment.

Following a strategic review of tourism policy in 1989, a new strategy was implemented which aimed to maximise the potential of tourism as a generator of wealth and creator of employment. New tourism legislation came into force on 1 April 1992 which placed the Northern Ireland tourist board in the pivotal role to promote, market and develop Northern Ireland as a tourist destination.

The Industrial Research and Technological Unit, established in 1993, has facilitated the establishment of high-quality research and development projects which are aimed at strengthening both the technological infrastructure of Northern Ireland, and the competitiveness of industry.

The Department has also published an energy strategy entitled "Engergy for the 1990s and Beyond". The document described Northern Ireland's strategic energy objectives against the rapidly changing energy scene in Northern Ireland.

The electricity industry was restructured during 1992. The generating stations were split from the remainder of Northern Ireland Electricity and sold to the private sector by means of trade sales. Plans for the flotation of NIE are well advanced.

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.

The Department has introduced a substantial volume of new health and safety at work legislation, including that required by EC directives. Consumer protection legislation has been introduced to enforce EC directives on product liability and price marketing. In 1985 the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland was established.