Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party). It was answered on Tuesday, 1 November 2011 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee.

Green Investment Bank/Big Society Bank

Question: I thank the Minister for his reply. As work is taken forward, will he ensure that both facilities are fully accessible and available to businesses and others in Northern Ireland? Will he also ensure that mistakes will not be made that were made with the renewable obligations regime that precluded projects with a cross-border dimension? It is important to the green investment bank that projects can have a cross-border character. When it comes to the conditions for accessing either facility, will he ensure that support from a Northern Ireland Government Department will not be a qualifying condition or a disqualifying condition?

Answer: I can answer the hon. Gentleman by saying that the green investment bank and the Big Society Capital group will operate on a United Kingdom-wide basis. That is the straight answer. If he wishes to learn a little more about Big Society Capital, which I am sure he does, I will be addressing that in greater detail following questions. I will discuss the cross-border aspect with ministerial colleagues, and I will write to the hon. Gentleman about it. Clearly, both the green investment bank and the Big Society Capital group will have as much to do in Northern Ireland as in any other part of the United Kingdom, and we shall ensure that that is the case.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: NIGC c9
Session: 2010-12
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons Grand Committees
Subjects: Cross border cooperation Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland Green Investment Bank Big Society Capital
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk