Reg Empey, Conservatives and Unionists South Antrim candidate, has applauded Schrader Electronics on winning the Queen's Award for industry 2010.

"At a time when Northern Ireland is recognizing the need to re-focus and drive its private sector forward, such success is particularly welcome.

"This accolade recognizes Schrader Electronics' significant exports of its world beating remote pressure sensors, which have been researched and designed locally and manufactured in Antrim and Carrickfergus.

"Schrader Electronics has become a world leader in its field, and their continued success is a reflection on Northern Ireland's capabilities on the world stage.

"This is good news for employees and for the local economy, and I commend management and staff on their hard work and innovation.

"It is very clear - and universally accepted, except by those in electioneering mode - that Northern Ireland's public sector is too large and that the private sector must be encouraged to develop if we are to fight our way out of recession. The efforts of Schrader are proof positive of Northern Ireland's potential to do so.

"This view is also supported by the Northern Ireland Assembly's Programme for Government which advocates addressing 'the structural weaknesses in our economy and focus on growing the private sector'.

"Even the opening paragraph of the DUP manifesto economy section states that 'growing the private sector is the key to economic success' and that we must 'reign back public spending and invest more wisely' - spending reductions must be pursued rather than seeking to increase taxes.

"Likewise the Alliance Party's 2007 economic policy paper agreed that NI's public sector share of GDP is 71%, adding - 'this is higher than many command economies, including many Soviet Bloc states during the Cold War and Nazi Germany. This is significantly worse than the next region of the UK economy'.

"Attempts to twist on this issue are disingenuous to say the least."