Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has been appointed to a new House of Lords Select Committee focusing on the assistance and promotion of the export of products and services by small and medium sized enterprises. 

Lord Empey said;

“I am greatly honoured to have been appointed by the House of Lords to a new Select Committee concentrating on small and medium sized enterprises and exports. The Committee will be chaired by Lord Cope, who was a former Northern Ireland Office Minister.

This is a very important Committee and I look forward to playing my part in seeking ways of assisting the vital small and medium enterprise (sme) sector.

Locally small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of Northern Ireland’s economy; accounting for approximately 80% of both private-sector employment and private-sector turnover. Moreover, 99% of private-sector enterprises are small businesses that employ fewer than 50 people. In the current recession, those businesses are suffering, but they are also crucial for our recovery.

Ulster Unionist Leader Mike Nesbitt congratulated Lord Empey on this appointment saying:

“This is fitting recognition of the talents which Lord Empey possesses and the UK-wide reputation which the Ulster Unionist Party has built as Northern Ireland’s original pro-business party and as Vice president of the Institute of Export I can think of no better person than Lord Empey to sit on this committee.

It should not be forgotten that it was under Lord Empey’s Leadership that Ulster Unionist Party led the way in the campaign to have the powers to vary Corporation tax devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.   

I am confident that Lord Empey will play a key role in this Lords Committee as it seeks to help small and medium enterprises take advantage of vital export opportunities as the UK seeks to negotiate these turbulent economic times.”