uuptoday.org

Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott MLA has emphasised the importance of the agri food industry to Northern Ireland and its economy.

Tom said: “This industry accounts for £2.4 billion and currently employs around 20,000 people in processing and upwards to 80,000 across the whole supply chain from farms to factories.

“One cannot over emphasise the importance of the agri-food industries in Northern Ireland and are a vital part in preserving the fabric of social and economic life in Northern Ireland. These industries, many of which are located in rural parts of the province underpin the rural population and economy here. It is vital that every effort is made to ensure that the future of this sector is secure, prosperous and sustainable for generations to come.

We don’t want to see the food and agricultural industries here go the same way as the textile and shipbuilding industries because people didn’t want to change. The industry is very consumer orientated and changing consumer preferences are driving everything from what new products are developed, to the way they are marketed. Fivemiletown Creamery is now supplying US supermarkets with its cheese and today you will find Northern Ireland products in supermarkets and gourmet food halls throughout the world. The company recognised that to survive in an increasingly competitive national and international business environment you must be innovative and market your products aggressively. This is an example to other companies on what can be achieved.

Recent figures show that this sector continues to contribute almost 23% of total manufacturing sales and 13% of exports, this illustrates the importance of the agri – food industry to the future economic growth of Northern Ireland. We are fortunate to have a large number of internationally recognised brands located in Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Moy Park, Dunbia (Dungannon Meats), Linden Foods and Fivemiletown Creamery to name but a few. The secret of their success and their commitment to innovation in products along with their successful marketing will ensure a locally owned industry with immense export potential. They are ideally placed to make an even greater contribution to localised wealth generation in the future.

Tom concluded: “A new NI Executive would be well advised to follow the examples of the Scottish Executive and Irish Government in making food a priority industry in areas such as procurement and promotion. Sufficient resources should be in place to accelerate the growth of this important industry. Let the Executive recognise that we already have a fist class, quality and secure product which if given the resources will continue to expand and prosper on the world market and we will not be slow in adapting to consumer demands in the future.”

The announcement by the Education Minister, Maria Eagle, that 84 postponed school build projects, including Devenish College, can now continue as planned has been welcomed by Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott.

The assemblyman said that such a statement by the Department of Education was long overdue and that the slow rate of progress surrounding many schemes had needlessly increased uncertainty regarding the future of many schools.

In a statement Tom said: “With regards the site of the new Devenish College on the Tempo Road I am glad that the go-ahead has been given, pupils, parents, teachers and the Board of Governors have had to endure many months of uncertainty and broken promises.

“The Minister’s statement will hopefully mean that the situation can finally progress, however the nature of the scheme, either through Public Finance Initiative or the more traditional format, needs to be finalised before the new campus can commence.

“I have recently made representation to Minister Eagle regarding the need for action on Devenish College and I will continue to press for the construction of the first-rate facility that the pupils and teachers deserve and have been promised by Ministers time and time again.”

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone assemblyman concluded by adding: “The postponement to the planned replacement for the Erne Special School in Enniskillen, is of course a blow to the families and staff involved. The care and support provided by the school is of vital importance to the community and must be allowed to continue without uncertainty.

“I am however glad that many projects across my constituency and beyond can now progress, the recent ‘stop go’ approach to school build projects has dented morale throughout the educational sector and I hope that this will now end.”

Responding to Gordon Brown’s last Budget as Chancellor, Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey has raised his concerns about the tax hike on small businesses and the lack of new approaches to social and environmental challenges.

Sir Reg said,

“The reduction in corporation tax levels and the basic level of income tax might, at first look, suggest that the Chancellor is now beginning to recognise that the tax burden on the United Kingdom’s families and businesses is too high.

However despite headline grabbing reduction in corporation tax from 30% to 28% for large businesses, the chancellor concealed an increase in the same tax from 19% TO 21% for small business.

As NI has a small business economy I am stunned that the Chancellor has taken us in this direction. This makes our task with the Chancellor an even more herculean task tomorrow at No 11 Downing Street. Absolute unity from the parties involved is essential if we are to succeed tomorrow.

Considering the Northern Ireland economy - like some other parts of the UK - relies heavily on the enterprise of SMEs, this tax hike together with the failure to move away from the flawed R&D tax credit system results in a budget that offers little for Northern Ireland’s businesses.

If the budget fails the economic competitiveness test, it also fails the social justice test.  Older people have been offered little.  The fact that Help the Aged have described this budget as ‘a missed opportunity’ speaks volumes.  There has also been a failure to adequately address child poverty - despite the Government’s commitment to eradicate this scandal by 2020.  The plight of children in the most severe poverty has not been addressed by Gordon Brown.

The fact that green taxes have actually fallen during Gordon Brown’s time at the Treasury, and that his budget speech failed to even mention the Stern Report on the economic impact of climate change (despite being commissioned by the Treasury) also raises serious questions about the leadership this Government is showing in addressing environmental challenges.”