8 January 2020
Vara urges Government to focus on re-establishing the Northern Ireland Assembly

Shailesh Vara urges the Government to 'leave no stone unturned' in efforts to reach an agreement so the Northern Ireland Assembly can properly function again which could considerably increase overseas investment in Northern Ireland.

Mr Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire) (Con)

In the period 2018 to 2019, overseas companies investing in Northern Ireland created nearly 1,500 new jobs. Does my right hon. Friend agree that if Stormont were to be up and running again, then this year that number would be considerably higher, and that it is important that no stone is left unturned in efforts by the Northern Ireland parties to seek agreement so that the Northern Ireland Assembly can be properly functioning again?

The Prime Minister

I am proud to say that the UK is now the third-highest recipient of foreign investment in the world, but Northern Ireland could get even more than it currently does if, as my hon. Friend rightly says, people took their responsibilities and got Stormont up and running again.

Hansard

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