Contributions
418 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLegislative ProgrammeThe legislative programme for the Second Session was outlined by Her Majesty on Monday 14 October. This statement provides a summary of the programme and its application to…15 Oct 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)It would be wrong to attribute this matter to Brexit, bus strategy or other issues. Very often, one of the issues in a capitalist economy is that companies do run into trouble. It…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)I am deeply disappointed by the news that Wrightbus has had to enter administration. This is a real blow for the people of Ballymena. A number of redundancies have been announced.…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)Through this process, I have become aware of the huge market for buses in South America. My hon. Friend is an exceptionally dynamic trade envoy, and I look forward to meeting him…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)My hon. Friend shares my desire to ensure that we get into a better place on this issue. Let me answer his questions in turn. On R&D and Government support more generally, the…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)I do not think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the loan. On the question of how the absence of Stormont affects these jobs, yes, not having a devolved Executive is…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)My experience in Northern Ireland from the two major issues I have been working on recently with regard to the economy—Harland and Wolff, and Wrightbus—is that the administration…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)I thank my right hon. Friend for that contribution and take this opportunity to pay tribute to his activist approach. It was not always of benefit to me as Government Chief Whip,…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)The important thing now is to protect jobs and to ensure that we get a successful buyer. There will be time enough to look back on what could have been done differently and what…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)I do not think it would be appropriate for me to make bus-buying recommendations, but I say again that the technology of Wrightbus and the energy at Wrightbus mean that there is a…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)As I said in my statement, it is really important that everybody who thinks they could help to unlock this process does what is in the best interests of the people of Ballymena…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)I am very happy to pay tribute to Sue. As colleagues from across the House know, she played a very important role in the civil service here and continues to do so in Northern…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)The £220 million announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer a few hours ago will be of benefit to all bus companies and will ensure that the market for buses in both GB and NI…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)The important message is to ensure that we get the best buyers for Wrightbus and Harland and Wolff. I do not have details on the technical aspects of the bus the hon. Lady…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for all his work as a Transport Minister. The civil service in Northern Ireland is working very hard, Invest NI is working very hard…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)The administrator is responsible for the sales process. As I mentioned earlier, there may be a number of things that the administrator and others will want to look at in the…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)The technology and the opportunity for Wrightbus, with a successful buyer and with a vision for the future, are very strong. I think we have addressed the issue of loans and other…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)I agree with my right hon. Friend about the opportunity for Wrightbus and the technology it has. I think we are both agreed that the best resolution for Brexit is a deal at the…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Wrightbus (Ballymena)My hon. Friend is right that there are certain powers that can be executed by the Department for the Economy, but the main powers reside with the Executive, which is why we want…30 Sept 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 Section 7I beg to move, That this House takes note of and approves the Report pursuant to Section 3(14) of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 - Historical…30 Sept 2019