4th Report – Economic growth in Northern Ireland: new and emerging sectors

Select Committee
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee HC 1193 23 March 2026
Report Status Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations 13 items (8 recs)
Source View on Parliament website
Government Response (AI assessment · 13 of 13 classified)
Accepted 2
Accepted in Part 3
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 2
Rejected 3
Government response
1st Special Report – Economic growth in Northern Ireland: new and emerging sectors: Government Response · published 25 Jun 2026
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Recommendations & Conclusions

3 results
2 Recommendation Rejected
The UK Government and NI Executive need to work together more closely on economic issues,...
Recommendation
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 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.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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10 Recommendation Rejected
Future City and Growth Deals should include greater powers for local government in Northern Ireland.
Recommendation
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 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.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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12 Conclusion Rejected
Tackling economic inactivity is one of the keys to economic growth.
Conclusion
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 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.
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
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