| Area | # | NAV |
|---|---|---|
| South | 168 | £12,316,199 |
| Mid-Ulster | 165 | £10,556,556 |
| Craigavon | 103 | £6,591,302 |
| North West | 101 | £5,751,100 |
| North East | 51 | £4,449,373 |
| Antrim | 47 | £1,674,931 |
| West | 30 | £3,988,963 |
| Belfast East | 24 | £10,347,934 |
| Belfast North | 16 | £1,362,918 |
| Omagh | 12 | £335,049 |
| Ards | 10 | £166,972 |
| Belfast - West | 8 | £937,041 |
| Belfast South | 7 | £559,301 |
| Bangor | 2 | £140,900 |
NIMFG - Response to Industrial Rates Freeze at 30% The Northern Ireland Manufacturing Focus Group has expressed disappointment at the Government's proposal to freeze the industrial rates at 30% for next year, following its long running campaign to have the rates frozen at 25%. Speaking after the Department of Finance and Personnel Minister David Hanson announced the freeze which will save manufacturers £4 million next year, Basil McCrea said the decision, though a political compromise, would invariably lead to job losses. "We welcome the fact that the Government has at least started to listen to manufacturing. The decision is a real saving to manufacturing of £4 million pounds next year and is proof that we made a strong case. However every day that this short sighted and counter productive policy remains in place will cost jobs. The 50/50 approach which may be good from a political point of view is of cold comfort to those that will lose their jobs in the comming months and we urgently need this decision to be reviewed.. To that end we will continue to engage vigorously with the Government. There is no doubt that we have had a positive engagement with civil servants but in the absence of any political leadership the Northern Ireland economy will continue to drift rudderless in stormy seas." he continued, "At the turn of this year we were told by everyone that we should forget about opposing a policy which was done and dusted. We have not listened to that school of thought and we have fought hard to raise awareness of the whole manufacturing sector in Northern Ireland. We brought the political parties together at a time when agreement on any issue was almost impossible to achieve, and we found common ground between owners, managers, trade unionists and workers. However Government, whether it is comprised of locally elected MLAs or NIO Ministers needs to keep listening. Jobs are being lost in a sector which is essential to the future of Northern Ireland's economy, and NIMFG will not stop fighting to save manufacturing." Manufacturers call on Hain to 'respect' Assembly Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain was today urged to show due respect to the Assembly if it called on the British Government to change its policy on imposing rates on manufacturers. The call was made by the Northern Ireland Manufacturing Focus Group's spokesperson Basil McCrea as Stormont Assembly members prepared to debate the Governments's plan to phase out industrial de-rating. "We will go to Westminster, if we have to, to try and force the Government to change its policy." Northern Ireland Manufacturing Focus Group take a Cavalcade of lorries to Stormont to highlight the focus to phase out industrial de-rating. Over 150 lorries in the Cavalcade
Belfast City CentreA Cavalcade of lorries travelling through Belfast City Centre, to the Waterfront Hall where supporters gathered for a mass rally. Basil McCrea spokesman for the Northern Ireland Manufacturing Focus Group, was joined on stage by representatives of the DUP, Sinn Fein, SDLP, UUP and Alliance. After the rally a NIMFG delegation and the five political parties met Secretary of State Peter Hain to discuss the situation. The Government's decision to levy rates on Industrial Premises will destroy our industrial base. Read more... There are 5,107 companies in Northern Ireland affected by the ending of industrial de-rating.
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Number of members : 470
Banbridge Council , Banbridge
6.30 pm on 15/01/07 Castlereagh Borough Council, Belfast 7.30pm on 10/01/07 |
