Brown vows to help North’s economy grow

GORDON Brown is serious about helping Northern Ireland’s economy become more competitive, business leaders said today after meeting the chancellor in Belfast.

He has agreed to do all he can to help more small businesses invest in key research and development which will enable them to develop new products and new global markets, they said.

Representatives of the vast bulk of local business, the Federation of Small Businesses, declared themselves satisfied Mr Brown is serious about taking action to help the local economy.