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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
2 Recommendation 4th Report – Economic growth in Norther… Rejected

The UK Government and NI Executive need to work together more closely on economic issues,...

The UK Government and NI Executive need to work together more closely on economic issues, aligning their strategies and co-ordinating their delivery. The NIO should set this out in the “economic vision” referred to in its annual report, and publish this within six months. In this “economic vision”, the NIO … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government shares the view on close collaboration and states its economic vision aims to address structural weaknesses and create conditions for growth. However, it rejects the recommendation to include specific, measurable, and time-bound objectives with numerical forecasts, stating this is not realistic.
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Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
10 Recommendation 4th Report – Economic growth in Norther… Rejected

Future City and Growth Deals should include greater powers for local government in Northern Ireland.

Future City and Growth Deals should include greater powers for local government in Northern Ireland. Deals should also include complementary funding strands on both skills and core infrastructure. (Recommendation, Paragraph 59)

Government response AI summary
The government notes the recommendation but states there are currently no plans for future City and Growth Deals. It acknowledges the importance of skills promotion, identifying it as a potential theme for the separate Local Growth Fund, but focuses on delivering current deals.
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Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
12 Conclusion 4th Report – Economic growth in Norther… Rejected

Tackling economic inactivity is one of the keys to economic growth.

Tackling economic inactivity is one of the keys to economic growth. In Northern Ireland, this has been carried out largely by the community and voluntary sector using revenue funding. Under the forthcoming Local Growth Fund, the proportion of revenue funding will be severely curtailed due to a new 70–30 capital-revenue … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges concerns about the 70-30 capital-revenue split for the Local Growth Fund but defends it as a new fund focused on long-term capital investment for economic growth. It refutes criticism of the NIO's effectiveness and highlights ongoing consultation.
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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…