(2) how many meetings he has had with members of the business community in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months;
(3) what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland (a) First Minister and (b) Deputy First Minister on the economy and businesses in Northern Ireland;
(4) what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the exposure of Northern Irish taxpayers to the liabilities of UK banks;
(5) what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the impact on Northern Ireland banks of guarantees given by the Republic of Ireland to Irish banks.
I have regular meetings with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, HM Treasury Ministers, the First and Deputy First Ministers, Northern Ireland Ministers and others including on a number of matters relating to the Northern Ireland economy and businesses.
I represent the interests of Northern Ireland within Cabinet and in my capacity as a member of the National Economic Council which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister set up to co-ordinate economic policies across Government and assess the implications of the ongoing challenges in the financial markets for the United Kingdom.
Financial services and financial markets are not devolved matters and are the responsibility of Treasury Ministers, who also have discussions from time to time at the request of Northern Ireland Minsters on matters of mutual interest.
Those aspects of the economy which are devolved are the responsibility of the relevant Northern Ireland Ministers with whose officials mine liaise on an on-going basis.
In preparation for the very successful investment conference in May this year, I met various Northern Ireland and international business leaders and continue to maintain that contact.