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Select Committee · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Economic growth in Northern Ireland: new and emerging sectors

Status: Open Opened: 10 Jul 2025 8 recommendations 5 conclusions 1 report

Kickstarting economic growth is the number one mission for this Government’s term in office. In this inquiry, the committee will examine plans to deliver economic growth in Northern Ireland, including the recent UK Industrial Strategy, with a particular reference to emerging sectors or ‘industries of the future’. Read our call for evidence here for more … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report – Economic growth in Northern Ireland: new and e… HC 1193 23 Mar 2026 13 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
4 Recommendation 4th Report – Economic growth in Norther… Accepted in Part

SMEs are the dominant business structure in Northern Ireland.

SMEs are the dominant business structure in Northern Ireland. If they are to innovate, take risks and build economic growth in NI, they need specific support, particularly in navigating dual market access to the EU and UK internal markets. Currently, the multiple bodies providing support in different areas may be … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government notes the committee's conclusion and confirms the Northern Ireland Business Support Service will act as a 'One Stop Shop' providing tailored digital regulatory advice for SMEs moving products, with core functionality operational in the 2026–27 financial year.
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Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
5 Recommendation 4th Report – Economic growth in Norther… Accepted in Part

The Government should establish a completely overarching one-stop shop for NI SMEs trading in goods...

The Government should establish a completely overarching one-stop shop for NI SMEs trading in goods and services. This facility should bring together support on accessing innovation funding, trading East-West, North-South and more widely in the EU, as well as wider business support to enable businesses to invest and grow. The … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the recommendation and is committed to delivering an enhanced 'One Stop Shop' regulatory support service, backed by £16.6 million, which is expected to go live within this financial year, as scheduled.
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Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
13 Recommendation 4th Report – Economic growth in Norther… Accepted in Part

The Government should urgently reverse the capital-revenue split of the new Local Growth Fund in...

The Government should urgently reverse the capital-revenue split of the new Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland. Failing this, the NIO should work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, HM Treasury and the NI Executive urgently to identify alternative and comparable sums of money for economic inactivity … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation to reverse the capital-revenue split of the Local Growth Fund. However, they have taken action to identify alternative funding, including PEACEPLUS, and engaged with stakeholders to provide information and arrange sessions to expedite and streamline the application process for economic …
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Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
29 Jun 2026 Blair McDougall MP · Department for Business and Trade, Matthew Patrick MP · Northern Ireland Office, Paul Flynn · Northern Ireland Office, Sally Jones · Department for Business and Trade View ↗
3 Jun 2026 Richard Williams · Northern Ireland Screen, Sam Turner · Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Shane Corcoran · RenewableNI, Shane Corcoran · RenewableNI, Simon Whittaker · NI Cyber, Steven Morrison · Agrifood and Bioscience Institute View ↗
4 Feb 2026 Colin McCabrey · InterTradeIreland, The Rt Hon. the Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee DBE · Intertrade UK View ↗
7 Jan 2026 Alison McCullagh · Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Tim McClelland - Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA), Steven Norris · Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council View ↗
19 Nov 2025 David Quinn · Queen's University Belfast, Professor Paul Bartholomew · Ulster University, Robert Hill · Matrix Panel, Stuart Anderson · Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry View ↗

Who gave evidence

18 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Shane Corcoran · Senior Policy Analyst, Grid, Grid Capacity & Mark… RenewableNI 2
Alison McCullagh · Chief Executive Fermanagh and Omagh District Council 1
Blair McDougall MP · Minister for Small Business and Economic Transfor… Department for Business and Trade 1
Colin McCabrey · Director of Trade InterTradeIreland 1
Councillor Tim McClelland - Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) — 1
David Quinn · Executive Director for the Belfast Region City De… Queen's University Belfast 1
Matthew Patrick MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northe… Northern Ireland Office 1
Paul Flynn · Deputy Director for Windsor Framework Taskforce Northern Ireland Office 1
Professor Paul Bartholomew · Vice Chancellor Ulster University 1
Richard Williams · Chief Executive Northern Ireland Screen 1
Robert Hill · Chair Matrix Panel 1
Sally Jones · Deputy Director, Industrial Strategy Implementati… Department for Business and Trade 1
Sam Turner · Chief Executive Officer Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, Queen's University Belfast 1
Simon Whittaker · Chair NI Cyber 1
Steven Morrison · Head of Sustainable Livestock Systems Agrifood and Bioscience Institute 1
Steven Norris · Deputy Director of Regeneration and Infrastructure Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council 1
Stuart Anderson · Director of Public Affairs & International Relati… Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry 1
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee DBE · Chair Intertrade UK 1

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
15 Jul 2026 — Correspondence from Department for Business and trade relating to Economic Grow…
4 Mar 2026 — Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the reserve claim of £40…