Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
From the challenges that we have in making sure that projects get moving, the impact of 10 or 12 years of austerity Budgets is very clear, particularly the impact on Northern Ireland Water and the work that it needs to do to ensure that land is fit for development. Of course, the Minister for Infrastructure will…
The head of the Construction Employers Federation and the head of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations have said consistently that we are, unquestionably, in a housing crisis. If that rise is not addressed, we will be putting a handbrake on the building sector, which we so desperately need for our…
The Utility Regulator and anyone else has to make sure that, whatever position they take on costs, it is done in a way that is sustainable and has an evidence base to support it. I look forward to engaging with the Utility Regulator on a range of those matters. As I said, we want to improve connectivity and the…
As I said, the full impact will take time to become clear. I have acknowledged the benefits to workers from increases in the national minimum wage and the national living wage, but there are challenges, particularly with the cost of energy. I am aware of particular concerns raised by the hospitality sector about the…
As the Minister will know, I come from a constituency that relies heavily on the hospitality sector. Can he outline the impact of the British Government's Budget on the hospitality sector?
I do not have that information to hand, but I am very happy to correspond with the Member to provide it, if there is up-to-date information and if that information attributes the causation of somebody's insolvency to how the Budget has left them. I support the idea of giving poorly paid workers more wages, but the…
Labour's disastrous Budget had a severe impact not just on farmers but on business owners, and the increase in employer National Insurance contributions has left many of them feeling that they are being taxed to the point of death. Growth rates have slowed down as a result of the Budget, and there have been record…
A Cheann Comhairle , with your permission, I will take questions 7 and 8 together. The Budget contained a range of announcements that affect local businesses in a variety of ways, depending on the characteristics of each individual business, including its size, location, which sector it operates in and how it chooses…
That is my clear intention. As I said, it is an injustice that that particular nettle has not been grasped before in the way in which it is currently being grasped. I am pleased to be able to do that in the position that I am now in and to work with other Departments that share my commitment to addressing the issue. I…
The Minister said that the situation for those young people was an "injustice". Given the seriousness of that, what reassurance can he give parents of young people with special educational needs that, by the end of the mandate, whether through legislation or by having better systems in place, there will be tangible…
That is our ambition. I am sure that all of us, through our constituency duties, have represented people who have fallen off the edge of the system and no longer get support post 19. I have committed to trying to address that in my Department, because we have responsibility for further and higher education and skills,…
I thank the Minister for his work in that regard. If we do not have time to legislate or if legislation is not possible, what substantive measures are available to the Minister, maybe working collaboratively with the Education Minister and the Health Minister, to affect and change the lives of those young people, who…
The employment rights Bill consultation sought views on enhancing flexible working rights. Flexible working is an agreed way of meeting the needs of an employer and an employee through alternative approaches to working. It can enable those with caring responsibilities, disabilities or long-term health needs to access…
It will be challenging, because the legislation is complex and crosses a number of Departments, and we have only two years left in the mandate. I have to be realistic. I have always said that, if it requires legislation, we should legislate to make sure that the provision is protected. It is an injustice that people…
I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, you will be aware that Caleb's Cause is calling for post-19 SEN legislation to support those children. What confidence do you have that that legislation might be delivered in this mandate?
It is vital that every young person in our society is supported to achieve and flourish. Improving support for young people with special educational needs is a priority in my Department's business plan and the Executive's draft Programme for Government. My officials are scoping the existing skills and training…
The Invest NI land strategy plan is not just about looking outside the greater Belfast area. We remain committed to growing the economy inside the greater Belfast area; we just want to do more to address regional imbalance beyond that. The land strategy will look at the location of strategic land. Of course, if we…
The Minister has included a large section of my Lagan Valley constituency in the Belfast area, while his focus remains on subregional balance. However, Lisburn has next to no Invest NI land left to provide job opportunities for my constituents. What are the Minister and his Department doing to address that? Given our…
We have set an overall target of 65% for growth outside the Belfast area. The local economic partnerships will drill down region by region to see how that economic growth is to be promoted, what the ambitions are and what targets are required. Invest NI is reorientating its regional presence to make sure that it works…
Minister, East Derry is crying out for this investment and job creation. Can you detail any targets that the subregional plan will set for the region as a counterweight to Belfast?
The energy — sorry, I am back at the previous question. The land strategy that has been developed by Invest NI will be significant in supporting regional balance, because, if we are to encourage development and growth across all areas in the North, we need to ensure that land is available on which to do that. Last…
I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, given your subregional economic plan and the recommendations to send £45 million to be dedicated to kick-starting the economy in that area, what engagement has your Department had with Invest NI to explore the use of the land across East Londonderry and the Causeway coast…
Invest NI holds 126 acres of land across four business parks in the East Derry constituency, with two sites located in Coleraine and two in Limavady. A total of 57 acres of that land remains available to support new investment, with the remainder having been sold and developed in support of business investment.
As I said, the Department's energy team sits jointly on a number of bodies with DFC. We give advice on the energy strategy, which will also inform the housing supply strategy from DFC. The energy strategy will very much focus on renewables and on ensuring that we have security and stability in our energy prices, as we…