THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Expert forecasts bleak economic future for Northern Ireland

The economic prospects for Northern Ireland were reported by the News Letter on this day in 1981 as bleak.

This was the conclusion of the latest economic survey which had been released by Coopers and Lybrand. The main author of the report was a top industrial consultant named Mr Noel Stewart.

Mr Stewart picked out four main reasons why the Province would continue to suffer economically.

Firstly, when the economy picked up most United Kingdom companies would concentrate on the mainland due to the high level of unemployment and the high level of animosity towards Northern Ireland.

Secondly, the attraction of grants, hard work, good industrial relations and low pay in the Province had diminished.

Thirdly, industrial development agencies were being created in the United States and battling to hold investment within the country.

And finally, the industrial base in Northern Ireland had been eroded with the loss of between 60 and 80,000 jobs, these jobs noted the report would not be recovered in the years ahead.

Mr Stewart said: I have said before that we must stop running to Westminster with the begging bowl, at least until we can demonstrate that we have the capacity to help ourselves.”

Mr Stewart continued: “I believe some of the answers are obvious to most of us, but unless we are prepared to recognise some of our most pressing problems and resolve them now, then I fear that the deterioration in Northern Ireland could reach such proportions that many of us will spend the rest of our lives on social welfare and even are working will see their standard of living declining.”