§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about job creation and industrial development in Northern Ireland, with particular reference to inward investment in South Down and other areas of high unemployment.
§ Mr. Tim SmithOne of the Government's priority objectives is to improve employment prospects in all parts of Northern Ireland. In pursuit of this objective the IDB and LEDU are working with their client companies to encourage them to develop their international competitiveness, thus creating the conditions for growth in durable employment.
During the current year the Industrial Development Board has continued to attract an increasingly high number of new inward investment projects to Northern Ireland. IDB cannot direct promoters as to where to locate projects within Northern Ireland. However, every effort is made to encourage inward investors to establish their new businesses in the areas of highest unemployment including South Down.