Economic growth in Northern Ireland: new and emerging sectors

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 10 Jul 2025 Parliament page
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 … Read more
8 Recommendations
5 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
2 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
15 Jul
2026
Correspondence
29 Jun
2026
Oral evidence
25 Jun
2026
Report published
3 Jun
2026
Oral evidence
23 Mar
2026
Report published
4 Mar
2026
Correspondence
4 Feb
2026
Oral evidence
7 Jan
2026
Oral evidence
19 Nov
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
29 Jun 2026
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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
3 Jun 2026
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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
4 Feb 2026
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Colin McCabrey · InterTradeIreland The Rt Hon. the Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee DBE · Intertrade UK
7 Jan 2026
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Alison McCullagh · Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Councillor Tim McClelland - Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) Steven Norris · Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
19 Nov 2025
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David Quinn · Queen's University Belfast Professor Paul Bartholomew · Ulster University Robert Hill · Matrix Panel Stuart Anderson · Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report – Economic growth in Northern Ireland: new and emergi… HC 1193 23 Mar 2026 13 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
13 results
1 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
The UK Government’s Industrial Strategy identifies eight sectors that will drive growth, and these map...
The UK Government’s Industrial Strategy identifies eight sectors that will drive growth, and these map well on to Northern Ireland’s sectoral strengths, as well as the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy’s sectoral plans. There are, however, a multiplicity of … Read more
Government Response
The government addresses the lack of clarity by detailing ongoing engagement with UK and NI departments and highlights the establishment of the Northern Ireland Growth Coordination Group (NIGCG). The NIGCG, which meets regularly, is tasked with coordinating policies and strategies to promote economic growth and ensure the Industrial Strategy utilizes Northern Ireland's strengths.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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2 Recommendation Rejected
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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3 Recommendation Acknowledged
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
There should be a Northern Ireland representative on the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, to ensure...
There should be a Northern Ireland representative on the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, to ensure the voice of Northern Ireland’s business community can feed into policy development and ensure that the Strategy appropriately supports economic growth in Northern Ireland. (Recommendation, … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of Northern Ireland's voice in UK-wide policy and states it is currently considering how NI voices can be more effectively heard within national policy development structures, including through representation on decision-making panels.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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4 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
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, … Read more
Government Response
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.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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5 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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6 Conclusion Acknowledged
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
Intertrade UK has the potential to be a key source of advice and solutions for...
Intertrade UK has the potential to be a key source of advice and solutions for the UK Government, but its Board membership needs to be broader to ensure that the east-west trade challenges faced by GB-based businesses are considered. It … Read more
Government Response
The government welcomes the committee's reflections on Intertrade UK and endorses its potential as a source of advice, noting that it is now implementing its work programme. However, the response does not address the committee's concern about broadening Board membership or the time taken for establishment.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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7 Recommendation Acknowledged
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
The Secretary of State should appoint a GB representative to the Board of Intertrade UK.
The Secretary of State should appoint a GB representative to the Board of Intertrade UK. (Recommendation, Paragraph 40) Unlocking economic growth
Government Response
The government acknowledges the desire for broader representation on the Intertrade UK Board and states it has discussed this with the Chair, committing to consider further appointments in line with the organisation’s Terms of Reference.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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8 Conclusion Deferred
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
We have received no evidence to date that the Executive has a thought through or...
We have received no evidence to date that the Executive has a thought through or deliverable plan to address and reform the deficits in planning policy and processes. (Conclusion, Paragraph 55)
Government Response
The government acknowledges planning delays in Northern Ireland but states it is a devolved matter for the Executive to address. It highlights its provision of £3m funding for the Department for Infrastructure's 'Transforming Planning project', which is on track to appoint inspectors by Q2 2026/27.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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9 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
City and Growth Deals have the potential to support not only sectoral growth, but growth...
City and Growth Deals have the potential to support not only sectoral growth, but growth and increased prosperity across the sub-regions of Northern Ireland. To that end, future deals might include local government to a greater extent. While current deals … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the committee's conclusion, agreeing on the potential of City and Growth Deals for regional growth, and confirms current deals are progressing. It states that existing deals already focus on infrastructure and employability/skills, and reaffirms confidence in local partners to design deals based on local needs.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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10 Recommendation Rejected
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
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
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.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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11 Recommendation Deferred
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
The ‘economic vision’ that the NIO is developing, including time-bound objectives as we recommend earlier...
The ‘economic vision’ that the NIO is developing, including time-bound objectives as we recommend earlier in this report, should clearly set out how the Government will address the structural weaknesses associated with the largely devolved but unignorable policy areas of … Read more
Government Response
The government states that policy areas like skills, energy, planning, and infrastructure are devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. While the NIO coordinates with the Executive and supports them with funding, the response does not detail how the economic vision itself will address these structural weaknesses or align with the infrastructure strategy.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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12 Conclusion Rejected
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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13 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
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 … Read more
Government Response
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 inactivity programming.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 13 of 8 classified
Accepted 2
Accepted in Part 3
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 2
Rejected 3
Total 8 recs + 5 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
15 Jul 2026 Correspondence from Department for Business and trade relating to Economic Growth Follow Up – Pausing of the Export Champions Programme, dated 14 July 2026.
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4 Mar 2026 Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the reserve claim of £400m for the Northern Ireland Executive, dated 27 February 2026.
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