To ask the Minister for the Economy what engagement and working relationship her Department will have with the newly announced UK Office for Investment.

It is vitally important that Northern Ireland’s competative strengths and investment opportunities continue to be recognised and promoted as an integral part of the UK approach to investment and trade promotion. I therefore welcome HM Government’s commitment to driving inward investment into all parts of the UK.

My officials are engaging with their UK Government counterparts to understand better the scope and make-up of the new UK Office for Investment, not least when it is expected to be operational and how it will reflect Northern Ireland interests as part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.