Live Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions House of Commons


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Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for business,

:00:07.:00:15.

energy and industrial strategy. Number one, please. Mr Speaker, my

:00:16.:00:24.

Department is working closely with the button for exiting the U to

:00:25.:00:28.

recognise the impact is that it will have on businesses and other

:00:29.:00:32.

economic actors across the UK, including in the east like a share.

:00:33.:00:36.

We will work hard to get the best deal for Britain. I thank my

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honourable friend for that answer. Although not quite as I hatching as

:00:42.:00:45.

the motor industry, the construction products industry, the furniture

:00:46.:00:50.

making industry, the chemical industry representative I crown

:00:51.:00:58.

pates, and others in my visitors see, employ more people. Will my

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bright and warm friend insure that the strategic industries to East

:01:01.:01:04.

baggage are able to trade on no less favourable terms than any other

:01:05.:01:11.

industry following Brexit? I thank him for that question. The

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construction products sector, and the construction industry overall,

:01:17.:01:21.

I'm closely involved with. It would be premature to comment on any deal

:01:22.:01:25.

to be struck but he can take it from me that it has got my closest

:01:26.:01:28.

attention, as far as the future of that industry goes. I echo those

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comments and concerns about leaving the you and what the tariff

:01:37.:01:44.

framework would be. I've visited Simon Jersey, who did the formal

:01:45.:01:48.

wear for our Olympic team. They told me that that Harris are between 910%

:01:49.:01:54.

and textiles. That is a real concern. What reassurance can be

:01:55.:01:59.

given to make sure they cannot beat taxed out of business by the EU?

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What is striking is that the innovative new investment that has

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been taking place in this country. One can see investments from BAE

:02:12.:02:16.

Systems, Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover, and many other industrial players.

:02:17.:02:21.

Will my honourable friend explore how 3DO complied tariff claw-back

:02:22.:02:38.

mechanisms... -- WTO. That question probably lies between ourselves and

:02:39.:02:42.

the Department for International trade. We will considerate

:02:43.:02:50.

carefully. Food production and processing is an important part of

:02:51.:02:55.

the Northwest economy. It is not necessarily susceptible to explore

:02:56.:03:01.

beyond the European Union because of different consumer tastes and

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preferences in the rest of the world. Can the Minister say what

:03:04.:03:07.

negotiations the Government has a ready undertaken or considered to

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protect this industry? Can he confirm that specialist negotiators

:03:14.:03:16.

who understand the industry are placed to carry out those

:03:17.:03:22.

negotiations? That is a question for the Department for roll of theirs as

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well is true that Terry Sturridge banding, and British producers can I

:03:28.:03:34.

spend their markets in the days to come. Considering that we have a

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massive trade deficit with the European Union, surely it would be

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suicide for the European Union not to agree a trade deal with us. If

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they did go down that line, did business would have to pay about ?5

:03:49.:03:57.

billion a year and Harris on -- in tariffs under the rules. Given that,

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could we not cover all tariffs from British businesses exporting to the

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EU so they do not have to pay anything and still be quids in?

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Alas, long a period -- long experience has caused me to distrust

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these things, so I will not comment on that. We are all aware that the

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cross-border trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland is absolutely

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vital. If we get Harris put in place, it could be a disaster. Would

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we make sure that the Northern Ireland voice is heard and embedded

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in any negotiations? I can assure the gentleman that that question has

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been taken seriously in my Department. Northern Ireland is an

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area for which I have responsibility, I have met on

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several occasions with Northern Irish economy ministers and senior

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figures in industry there. We will continue to look at that question

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carefully. This government is truly committed

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to science and innovation. We protected the size Budget at the

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Autumn Statement in 2015, the spending review. At the last Autumn

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Statement, we committed to spending a further ?2 billion a year by the

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end of this Parliament. The creation of UK research and innovation

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through the passage of the higher education and research Bill will

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increase the value and impact of our significant investments in science

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and innovation in years ahead. I thank him for that. It is certainly

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a good time for science innovation in the UK. It is also a good year

:05:37.:05:40.

for the space sector, with Major Tim Peake's historic visit to the

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International Space Station and a new spaceport here in the UK. The

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next challenge is the XO Mars programme, but Italy with the

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rumours going around, and the successful delivery of that

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programme. Could the Minister update the House on any progress made at

:05:58.:06:05.

the European Space Agency recently? I am happy to abide a brief update.

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As a former chair of the Parliamentary space committee, the

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honourable member will be delighted to hear we had an excellent outcome

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at the Council of ministers of the European Space Agency. We committed

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a further ?1.44 billion, which has secured the future of the Mars

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programme. Well done. I don't want to ruin the minister's Christmas

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celebrations, which are imminent, but the fact is if he looks at the

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deplorable investment in R, the figures that came out this week, he

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needs to wake up and smell the coffee. -- R They will be deeply

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damaged by leaving the European Union. Ask the university is what

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they think. The right honourable member will welcome the Governor's

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commitment to research and development, which is underscored in

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the Autumn Statement. A further ?2 billion by the end of this

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Parliament, perhaps the biggest single X10 check in anyone's memory

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in this Parliament. Will the Minister continue to support them as

:07:23.:07:26.

new Forth Industrial Revolution businesses come forward to seek to

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put forward the future of science and technology businesses? I'm happy

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to provide that assurance. They will be at the heart of our industrial

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strategy, and the Autumn Statement will provide it with the resources

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it needs to do the job it does in supporting small businesses in

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innovation. Tidal lagoon power's report that it could bring money to

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the UK. Swansea Bay is key to this. I appreciate the Minister will have

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concerns about costs to customers. Will he commit to weighing up all

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aspects of it for the report? We are looking very carefully at the report

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and will be coming forward without response in June course. Chemical

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and pharmaceutical businesses are important feature of the Northern

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powerhouse, and emerging enterprises are rooted in university research

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labs. What support and funding has the UK government committed to

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encourage continued research collaboration across Europe and

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indeed the rest of the world to increase our innovative business

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base, post-Brexit. We support international collaboration in

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science and research in Europe and indeed around the world, and will

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continue to do so. The Government talks about promoting science and

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innovation, but this government has pulled the plug on carbon storage.

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How much of the money is going towards that carbon storage? We will

:09:13.:09:17.

be consulting carefully with the sector, with the science community,

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as part of our development of the industrial strategy, in a discussion

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paper we'll be launching in weeks to come. There is an excellent job in

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promoting careers in science and engineering, I wonder whether he

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will come and visit the business that does that. It does a good job.

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I commend the good work that is going on in the constituency and

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look forward to an opportunity to visit as and when the opportunity

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arises. Question three, Mr Speaker. With your permission, I will answer

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this question together with question six. Our strategy will build an

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economy that works for everyone. To do that, we will drive productivity

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and growth in all parts of the country. We have set out steps to

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deliver this, including significant funding announcements for science,

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research and development and infrastructure in the Autumn

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Statement. I thank you for that answer and note the part where he

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said that the industrial strategy should work for everybody. You will

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be an additional 500,000 new jobs by 2020, but even if all of these jobs

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were taken up by disabled people, the disability employment gap would

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not be half. The Secretary of State explain how the industrial strategy

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will support the commitment to help the point gap by 2020?

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The honourable gentleman makes a good point. It's important that we

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close that gap. The government has made a very firm commitment to this

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and he will see, when we make our proposals and I hope you will

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contribute to it, that part of our purpose is to make sure that people

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who may have been excluded from the labour market are able to have the

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skills to be able to prosper in the future. Ayrshire is a beautiful

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coastal county but with areas of both rural and urban deprivation.

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And yet it has you huge potential in aerospace and pharmaceutical

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industries. The Scottish Government are supportive of a growth deal to

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invest in infrastructure. Will the Minister meet with me to hear the

:11:39.:11:43.

proposal to unlock airship's industrial potential? I would be

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delighted to meet with the honourable member. I'm very proud of

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the deals that we have negotiated, including in Glasgow, not far away

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in the West of Scotland. Their shed does have a huge amount to offer.

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Prestwick is a very important asset. I welcome the initiative of the

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councils in Ayrshire and I would be delighted to meet the honourable

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member. Can I urge my right honourable friend to consider

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creating free ports across an agent -- nation? These zones can

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simultaneously boost manufacturing, boost regional growth and grow

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exports. I am grateful for my honourable friend's industry in

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this. He has published an excellent report, for the Centre policy

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studies. It's very good reading and I am considering it with my

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colleagues. As my right honourable friend develops is industrial

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strategy, may I give him some friendly advice to drop the word

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industrial and drop the word strategy? And replace them with the

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words competition innovation and skills policies. What I would say to

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my honourable friend, and I'm grateful for his question, he will

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see that one of the differences between the approach that we will

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take to industrial strategy and policy and industry for this purpose

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means the services sector as well as manufacturing. This is very

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important. One of the differences from the past as this will not be

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about simply addressing the needs of incumbents. We want to make Britain

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the best place, the most competitive, the most contestable

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place for business to locate. I would be grateful if he would

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contribute to it but I think you'll find it's going to be music to his

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ears. Surely one of the Secretary of State's priorities should be the

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steel industry. So, is he aware that Noel Village foundry in Doncaster is

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being badly affected by reductions in the supply chain. When we ask his

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department to give urgent advice to the company to see if anything can

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be done to prevent it going into administration, even at this late

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stage? I would be very happy to meet with the right honourable member

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about this but I can give her some news that I think she will welcome

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on steel. I can announce today that we are, the government is going to

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publish the demands that it will have through public spectre bodies

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for steel to 2020. We're updating the procurement guidelines for steel

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to include the health service and local authorities, and to drop the

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previous threshold of ?10 million for which these guidelines apply.

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That will be good for the steel industry generally and for all firms

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within it. Small-scale manufacturing in firms often with fewer than half

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a dozen people are keyed to the local economy in Kettering and are

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responsible for a lot of the employment opportunities. I will

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indeed. Two things that I would commend it to him. In the extra

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funding for research and innovation that my honourable friend, the

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science minister, has described, we want to make sure that small

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manufacturers are able to access that. The second thing we want to

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address is the ability for small and growing firms to be able to obtain

:15:38.:15:43.

the finance to allow them to grow to the next stage. It's very important

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in having the vigorous competitive market that the honourable member

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suggested. Scotland's universities play a key role in boosting the

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economy across all sectors of our economy. With that in mind, will the

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Secretary of State outline what the role of universities would be in the

:16:04.:16:07.

forthcoming strategy? Will the recently announced new money

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available for our MDB available to Scottish universities? Universities

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are very important. We've had a number of constructive sessions with

:16:15.:16:19.

university leaders and researchers. Is absolutely right that science

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doesn't recognise boundaries. Universities and researchers in

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Scotland have a fantastic record of success. In fact, I think is the

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case that for 8.5% of the UK graduation, Scotland attracts 10% of

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funding which shows it can prosper and thrive with the new changes

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we're making funding. Universities Scotland is to 10% free Church

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funding comes from the EU and 16% to 20% of staff come from EU nations.

:16:55.:16:58.

With that in mind, will the Secretary of State ensure that as we

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exited EU, Scotland's universities are not hit punitively by withdrawal

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of EU funding? It follows from what I just said that science doesn't

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respect boundaries and the science community is very global and

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international. Of course, as you would expect, as part of the

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negotiations, we will affect the importance of that the whole of the

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United Kingdom. The Secretary of State talks of industrial strategy

:17:31.:17:35.

but so far has only shared land generalities. Despite the high

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profile examples cited, Institute of chartered accountants predicts

:17:46.:17:48.

business investment will fall in 2017. There are great opportunities

:17:49.:17:53.

for British business Post Brexit but they need the leadership and this

:17:54.:17:58.

climate of uncertainty is toxic to investment. So will the Secretary of

:17:59.:18:04.

State stop playing Scrooge with his assurances and give British business

:18:05.:18:09.

the Christmas present it once? I industrial strategy. A bit of

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optimism on the part of the honourable lady would not go amiss,

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especially in this Christmas season. In fact, there is huge enthusiasm

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and engagement with us across business, right across the country,

:18:25.:18:30.

to develop the long-term policies. Because you have been distracted by

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some of the events in her party of recent months let me summarise some

:18:37.:18:39.

of the things we've done since July. We've given the go-ahead for some

:18:40.:18:45.

important strategic infrastructure projects. Hinkley Point, the third

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runway at Heathrow, the next phase of HS two. We've secured investment

:18:50.:18:57.

in the sand. That's something we announced a month ago. We've

:18:58.:19:01.

ratified the Paris agreement. Secured the extra investment my

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honourable friend talked about. We've done more in five months and

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putting our industrial future onto the right footing than the previous

:19:08.:19:18.

government did in 13 years. If I may turn from Mali's ghost... The number

:19:19.:19:26.

of businesses in the UK continues to grow. The start of 2016, there were

:19:27.:19:31.

a record 5.5 million private-sector businesses. This is an increase and

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2015, one million more than in 2010. I thank my honourable friend for

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that answer. Small businesses in my constituency held a Christmas market

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this weekend to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the opticians who are

:19:49.:19:52.

doing a brilliant job locally. What more can I honourable friend do to

:19:53.:19:57.

ensure that small businesses and medium-size businesses prosper and

:19:58.:20:03.

grow in this country? My friend is absolutely right to recognise the

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central importance of small and medium-size businesses to our

:20:07.:20:08.

economy and they are businesses which this government has been

:20:09.:20:12.

supporting them through the extension of rate relief. To the new

:20:13.:20:23.

productivity Council and the new patient capital review. All of those

:20:24.:20:26.

things will go towards supporting that vital sector of our economy. In

:20:27.:20:30.

terms of the number of businesses, would he ensure there is a level

:20:31.:20:34.

playing field, so the level of subsidy for tariffs applied to the

:20:35.:20:39.

motor industry is applied equally across all exporters and when he

:20:40.:20:42.

published the total amount of subsidy before the 31st of March?

:20:43.:20:47.

There has been no special deal for Nissan or any other part of the

:20:48.:20:51.

motor industry. Whatever arrangements are made fully

:20:52.:20:56.

transparent to support different sectors of the UK economy. The

:20:57.:21:02.

general picture is the preceding vigorously and with some care

:21:03.:21:09.

towards an attractive destination. Superfast broadband is absolutely

:21:10.:21:12.

essential to many small businesses and does he agree with me that the

:21:13.:21:17.

fact many of my villages in South East Cambridgeshire still do not

:21:18.:21:21.

have collectivity and there is delay in connectivity is very

:21:22.:21:25.

disappointing? Will he join with me in encouraging and supporting

:21:26.:21:27.

further connectivity across the region? The honourable lady is

:21:28.:21:32.

absolutely right and she will know I've been a tireless campaigner for

:21:33.:21:36.

superfast broadband myself, especially in relation to BT and

:21:37.:21:42.

Openreach. So I agree with her. The Autumn Statement announced a ?1

:21:43.:21:49.

billion package for fibre and five G connectivity, prioritising business

:21:50.:21:52.

connections across the UK. That follows a superfast broadband

:21:53.:21:56.

programme which is due to deliver 91% coverage in South East

:21:57.:22:00.

Cambridgeshire by mid-2017 and the new obligation. 50,000 businesses

:22:01.:22:09.

die unnecessarily every year because of late payment. ?31 billion is owed

:22:10.:22:18.

and small businesses alone spend ?10 billion chasing outstanding

:22:19.:22:22.

invoices. Reports have been delayed with just 378 of the largest 55,000

:22:23.:22:29.

businesses having signed up to the prompt payment code. So when is this

:22:30.:22:32.

Conservative government going to start doing something to help with

:22:33.:22:37.

the scourge of late payment? But some teeth into it so small

:22:38.:22:41.

businesses can act! I think the honourable gentleman is absolutely

:22:42.:22:46.

right to point the finger squarely at issues of late payment. It's a

:22:47.:22:50.

serious matter, a matter for us to continue to press forward on. I

:22:51.:22:54.

certainly would say though that when I see this in need context of the...

:22:55.:23:06.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The proportion of women on FTSE 100

:23:07.:23:12.

boards have increased from 20% to 27%. Since 2011, the number of women

:23:13.:23:19.

on FTSE 350 boards has more than doubled to 23.5%. We support the

:23:20.:23:24.

business led target of 32% on FTSE 350 boards by 2020. I welcome the

:23:25.:23:31.

minister's response but to get more women onto boards we need to get

:23:32.:23:34.

more women into business in the first place. I spoke at the women's

:23:35.:23:40.

conference in Parkfield, a Sussex -based organisation whose mission is

:23:41.:23:43.

to get more women into business. What work is the government doing

:23:44.:23:47.

with organisations such as this to help get women into enterprise, so

:23:48.:23:51.

they get the skills they need to rise to the top? I congratulate my

:23:52.:23:55.

honourable friend on all the work she does two men tall women. Over

:23:56.:24:01.

16,500 start-up loans have been issued to female entrepreneurs and

:24:02.:24:04.

almost half the users of the business support helpline are women.

:24:05.:24:09.

The Hampton Alexander review is looking beyond boards now to

:24:10.:24:14.

building female pipelines among senior managements. We also support

:24:15.:24:20.

the women's business Council. Can the Minister indicate whether there

:24:21.:24:24.

is a regional pattern in low numbers of women on boards and outline what

:24:25.:24:28.

discussions have taken place with ministerial colleagues in devolved

:24:29.:24:33.

administrations of doubt increasing the number of women on boards? I

:24:34.:24:39.

welcome the honourable lady's commitment to increasing the number

:24:40.:24:44.

of women on boards in Scotland. I will have discussions with my right

:24:45.:24:48.

honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to ensure this

:24:49.:24:51.

national target applies equally to Scotland as it does elsewhere in the

:24:52.:24:53.

United Kingdom. I do apologise to the honourable

:24:54.:25:10.

lady. I did mean Northern Ireland, of course, in my earlier response.

:25:11.:25:18.

The government website and business support helpline provides

:25:19.:25:21.

information on starting and running a business, growth hubs also provide

:25:22.:25:25.

access to local and national support. There are 4.8 million

:25:26.:25:27.

people who are now self-employed. In South East Cornwall we have some

:25:28.:25:38.

fantastic self-employed people who make a host of excellent food

:25:39.:25:42.

products. Does my right honourable friends agree with me that there

:25:43.:25:47.

will be opportunities for them to grow these businesses and be

:25:48.:25:52.

released from excessive red tape once we leave the European Union?

:25:53.:25:57.

And what advice did she have for them?

:25:58.:26:00.

The Government committed in its manifesto to reduce the burden of

:26:01.:26:05.

regulation on business by ?10 million during this Parliament. The

:26:06.:26:08.

Government will also carefully consider the implications of leaving

:26:09.:26:12.

the European Union for the business impact targets and the opportunities

:26:13.:26:16.

to further reduce burdens on businesses like the excellent

:26:17.:26:20.

self-employed food producers in South East Cornwall.

:26:21.:26:27.

The issue of false self-employment is an issue in retail, care and

:26:28.:26:32.

construction. The gang masters licensing agency is expected to

:26:33.:26:36.

regulate those industries. Over half a million new businesses with only

:26:37.:26:40.

79 members of staff across the entire UK. The director of labour

:26:41.:26:43.

market and force that has not been appointed despite these new powers,

:26:44.:26:49.

will Government ensure it acts speedily?

:26:50.:26:51.

I can ensure the honourable lady that we are acting swiftly to

:26:52.:26:57.

appoint the office of labour market and force, I agree that it is

:26:58.:27:00.

crucial. Question number eight. The Prime

:27:01.:27:06.

Minister has made it clear that the Government will not, as a

:27:07.:27:10.

consequence of withdrawal, allow any erosion of rights in the workplace.

:27:11.:27:15.

Whether those derived from the EU or UK law. She has further made it

:27:16.:27:19.

clear that Government are determined to deliver an economy that works for

:27:20.:27:25.

everyone and fundamental to that is the preservation of existing

:27:26.:27:29.

workers' rights. Isn't the reality that our EU

:27:30.:27:34.

derived and Clement writes are not held by legislation but Aaron place

:27:35.:27:42.

because of enforcement by the enforcement of the relevant European

:27:43.:27:46.

courts? Given the progress in the British Bill of Rights has been

:27:47.:27:53.

patchy at best, how will we ensure them?

:27:54.:27:55.

Such rights will be upheld by British courts after we leave the

:27:56.:27:59.

European Union. The UK enjoys record on climate at the same time as

:28:00.:28:03.

having employment rights that exceed what is required by EU law in the

:28:04.:28:08.

important areas of maternity leave, parental leave and statutory annual

:28:09.:28:12.

leave. Mr Speaker, given the sorry history

:28:13.:28:20.

of Brexit broken promises, does the Minister understand the widespread

:28:21.:28:26.

cynicism being expressed that rates will be protected post Brexit,

:28:27.:28:35.

including on a continuing basis? -- that's rights will be protected. Did

:28:36.:28:41.

she agree with the rep said broken promise breaker par excellence the

:28:42.:28:46.

Foreign Secretary that these rights are backbreaking? I think he is

:28:47.:28:52.

prejudging the situation to say that we have added chance to break Brexit

:28:53.:28:57.

promises before we have started negotiations. The Prime Minister

:28:58.:29:00.

could not have been clearer and has been supported at this dispatch box

:29:01.:29:04.

by the Secretary of State for exiting the European Union that

:29:05.:29:08.

workers' rights will be protected and even enhanced as a possibility

:29:09.:29:13.

as well. The honourable gentleman bears a striking resemblance to an

:29:14.:29:17.

exploding volcano. Let's hear the fellow. Really, the

:29:18.:29:24.

Shadow Minister talked absolute rubbish just then. It is not

:29:25.:29:31.

unusual. Would the Minister agree with me that the democratic

:29:32.:29:34.

principle of the Government of the day deciding employment rights,

:29:35.:29:38.

isn't that what we want, employment rights decided in this House, not

:29:39.:29:45.

Europe? This house will decide on employment

:29:46.:29:49.

rights but it is important to remind my honourable friend that during the

:29:50.:29:51.

lifetime of this Government the Prime Minister could not have been

:29:52.:29:56.

clearer, workers' rights will be protected after Britain leads the

:29:57.:29:59.

European Union. Number nine.

:30:00.:30:05.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. We have held a wide range of discussions with

:30:06.:30:10.

businesses, representatives, investors, workers and local leaders

:30:11.:30:13.

in all four home nations and expect that to continue in the coming

:30:14.:30:19.

months to secure UK interests in any except negotiations.

:30:20.:30:22.

There is real concern among business about a potential cliff edge in

:30:23.:30:27.

March 2019 if we leave the EU and fall back on WTO rules and

:30:28.:30:33.

terrorists. Does he agree with what the Chancellor said yesterday to the

:30:34.:30:37.

Treasury Select Committee that there is, I quote, and emerging view among

:30:38.:30:40.

businesses that having a longer period to manage the adjustment

:30:41.:30:44.

period where we are now full members of the EU and where we get to in the

:30:45.:30:48.

future as the result of negotiations would generally be helpful and help

:30:49.:30:51.

to smooth the transition and reduce disruption?

:30:52.:30:56.

That is attempting invitation to our a running commentary on exit

:30:57.:30:59.

arrangements, as we will not do that the Government I will not do now.

:31:00.:31:05.

Last week's news out of Port Talbot is hugely welcome in steel towns

:31:06.:31:10.

such as Corby and came about because the constructive working we have

:31:11.:31:14.

seen not just across this House but involving ministers, the unions, the

:31:15.:31:19.

workforce in the industry. As we move towards final agreement being

:31:20.:31:23.

reached, going forwards, what role does my honourable friend CB

:31:24.:31:27.

industry playing in the industrial strategy, what discussions has he

:31:28.:31:32.

had about that in any EU context? This is more for my colleague the

:31:33.:31:39.

right honourable member for... Uxbridge. Let me just, if I may...

:31:40.:31:47.

Excuse me. I stand corrected, Ruislip. We will leave the Foreign

:31:48.:31:55.

Secretary out of this. Let me just say that he and the Secretary of

:31:56.:31:58.

State and other colleagues have had a series of meetings with steel

:31:59.:32:03.

companies across the production and supply chain and have been able to

:32:04.:32:08.

give them the support and structure they needed in the context we

:32:09.:32:12.

described. Question ten. My honourable friend,

:32:13.:32:20.

the retail energy market works well for those who are able and have the

:32:21.:32:25.

time to switch, with customers able to make savings of up to ?300 by

:32:26.:32:30.

moving onto the cheapest tariffs. We want a market that works for all

:32:31.:32:35.

consumers, not just those that switch supplier. That is why we have

:32:36.:32:38.

been clear that we want energy companies to come forward with

:32:39.:32:42.

proposals on how they will treat their loyal customers fairly.

:32:43.:32:47.

The Competition and Markets Authority found that two thirds of

:32:48.:32:51.

households are on expensive standard variable tariffs, does the Minister

:32:52.:32:54.

agree that suppliers should do more to make sure loyal customers are

:32:55.:32:58.

better body tariffs? I agree with my honourable friend

:32:59.:33:01.

that it is not right that customers are penalised for their loyalty. We

:33:02.:33:06.

want to see energy companies treating all by customers fairly,

:33:07.:33:08.

not just those switching between suppliers, which is why we have

:33:09.:33:13.

challenged them to come forward with proposals to ensure that all

:33:14.:33:17.

customers get a deal. What I have been saying for about

:33:18.:33:20.

five years that they have been overcharging customers on the

:33:21.:33:24.

standard variable tariffs, that has been confirmed by the Competition

:33:25.:33:28.

and Markets Authority and Ofgem and is being confirmed by the

:33:29.:33:31.

Government. The only way we will make a shift in these companies in

:33:32.:33:35.

the way they have operated is if we extend to those people with standard

:33:36.:33:39.

variable tariffs the protection offered to those on prepayment

:33:40.:33:43.

meters. Would the Minister have a meeting with me to discuss what more

:33:44.:33:47.

we can do to make sure that we give these big six energy is a kick up

:33:48.:33:52.

the backside? We will certainly... I am certainly

:33:53.:33:56.

happy to meet the honourable member, the honourable lady has extensive

:33:57.:34:01.

experience in this area, we are considering CMA remedies at the

:34:02.:34:05.

moment. A large number of rural properties

:34:06.:34:09.

are heated by oil fired central heating. Can the Minister confirm

:34:10.:34:14.

that home efficiency measures are recycled way of cutting bills for

:34:15.:34:20.

those rural properties? I agree, efficiency measures are

:34:21.:34:24.

fundamental to reducing the energy bill is not just for people in rural

:34:25.:34:30.

areas but the population as a whole. This week a senior executive in

:34:31.:34:35.

Ofgem warns that as a result of her high-rise on renewable energy,

:34:36.:34:40.

consumers may face the possibility of having to pay a premium to ensure

:34:41.:34:47.

that they have a reliable source of electricity to their homes without

:34:48.:34:50.

having lights turned off. What discussions has the Minister had

:34:51.:34:55.

with Ofgem on this issue, is the Government looking up the policy of

:34:56.:35:02.

relying on costly... Renewable energy rather than cheaper fossil

:35:03.:35:05.

fuels? We have an ongoing dialogue with

:35:06.:35:09.

Ofgem on a number of issues, apropos the costs of supporting investment

:35:10.:35:16.

in low carbon technologies, this is expected to increase, but so are

:35:17.:35:20.

savings from energy efficiency policies so that by 2020, household

:35:21.:35:25.

energy bills are estimated to still be lower on average than they would

:35:26.:35:30.

have been in the absence of those green policies.

:35:31.:35:37.

11. We are working to make the UK even more competitive in advanced

:35:38.:35:40.

Manufacturing by cutting corporate tax, cutting red tape and increasing

:35:41.:35:43.

support for the research innovation that will be crucial to success. Not

:35:44.:35:50.

least through the ?300 million investment in the high-value

:35:51.:35:53.

manufacturing category. Given the potential increase in

:35:54.:35:57.

tariffs due to Brexit, how does the Minister plan to ensure that this

:35:58.:36:01.

high-value form of manufacturing does not interior?

:36:02.:36:07.

This added manufacturing is extremely important to our future,

:36:08.:36:10.

both presenting many opportunities but also some risks to manage, it is

:36:11.:36:16.

going to be a very poor to part of the industrial strategy. In

:36:17.:36:19.

relations to the broader concerns about Arabs, the Government is

:36:20.:36:24.

listening very carefully, as I witnessed yesterday, to

:36:25.:36:26.

manufacturers and other sectors about priorities and concerns.

:36:27.:36:32.

Will the Minister or one of his colleagues meet with me and

:36:33.:36:37.

representatives from M and W group and BDE from my constituency who are

:36:38.:36:42.

part of eight consort Thiem bidding for vitrification project in the

:36:43.:36:47.

Chinese nuclear sector? ... Part of a consortium building... Bidding

:36:48.:36:57.

for. It would help if the Minister would meet with them and help them

:36:58.:37:01.

to win this contract. We are committed to supporting

:37:02.:37:07.

British business, the answer is yes. The low carbon energy sector would

:37:08.:37:10.

drive the manufacturing industry in this country. And be very helpful in

:37:11.:37:15.

developing an international strategy, which I fully support. One

:37:16.:37:20.

practical example is small nuclear reactors. Can the Minister tell

:37:21.:37:25.

House when we can get an announcement on the funding and help

:37:26.:37:30.

for this important sector? We are reviewing priorities in

:37:31.:37:33.

relation to the energy innovation portfolio that sits inside the

:37:34.:37:36.

department and the honourable gentleman will have noticed the

:37:37.:37:41.

comments made by the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement. We are

:37:42.:37:43.

reviewing priorities and will announce them shortly.

:37:44.:37:49.

Number 12. On the electricity side, the

:37:50.:37:55.

National Grid electricity capacity report was published in July for

:37:56.:37:59.

this year and involves a forward look on energy security through

:38:00.:38:03.

competitive capacity auctions. We have already secured capacity from

:38:04.:38:08.

2018/19 to 2021, in January we will try to secure capacity for another

:38:09.:38:15.

year. I doubt there's an flexible gas

:38:16.:38:21.

supply can meet demand even and the severe weather conditions. -- even

:38:22.:38:26.

under severe weather conditions. The importance of gas storage in

:38:27.:38:31.

energy generation and avoiding damaging price hikes has been

:38:32.:38:35.

highlighted by the partial closure of the wrath storage facility. What

:38:36.:38:40.

is the Government doing to tackle the question of increasing gas

:38:41.:38:43.

storage for the future? It is an important question. The gas

:38:44.:38:47.

supply arrangements are quite diverse. We have more than 30%

:38:48.:38:56.

capacity even on a cold winter's day. There has been higher than

:38:57.:38:59.

expected demand for power and restrictions to supply input

:39:00.:39:02.

structure. It is something we keep under constant review.

:39:03.:39:08.

The success of carbon capture and storage is important to energy

:39:09.:39:11.

security, which is why it is a disappointing that the Chancellor

:39:12.:39:14.

slashed ?1 billion from the ring fenced budget in the Autumn

:39:15.:39:18.

Statement. What is the Government doing to promote carbon capture and

:39:19.:39:21.

storage? I refer him to my honourable friend

:39:22.:39:24.

the member for Ruislip's earlier remarks on this topic.

:39:25.:39:32.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Will the Minister join me in congratulating

:39:33.:39:37.

Are Blocked In The Jean on the completion of its solar panel

:39:38.:39:48.

installation at a school in Street? I am very glad he has brought that

:39:49.:39:55.

to the attention of the Haas. After the latest capacity auction

:39:56.:39:59.

the overall scores for the procurement of new combined cycle

:40:00.:40:01.

gas generation plants stand that one. One small buildable plant over

:40:02.:40:08.

three auctions, at a total cost so far of ?3 billion, and 12p a year on

:40:09.:40:15.

customer bills. Does the Secretary of State of any other good ideas up

:40:16.:40:19.

his sleeve to secure the procurement and building of new capacity up to

:40:20.:40:24.

2020? As the honourable gentleman will

:40:25.:40:28.

know, the capacity market auction was an enormous success, it secured

:40:29.:40:35.

a widespread diversity of supply at low cost, at higher amounts than

:40:36.:40:42.

ever before. It is also including some innovative new technologies.

:40:43.:40:46.

Actually I think the department is to be celebrated for managing it.

:40:47.:40:53.

Number 13. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The next

:40:54.:40:58.

meeting of the council will take place in the New Year, I will need

:40:59.:41:02.

the steel industry chief executives next month and the trade union steel

:41:03.:41:07.

committee next month -- I will meet. I thank him for his answer, I am

:41:08.:41:10.

sure he will join me in congratulating all of those involved

:41:11.:41:19.

in the Save Our Steel campaign, especially the unions, for the

:41:20.:41:23.

announcement at Port Talbot. Trade union is out matters best, I am sure

:41:24.:41:26.

he will agree. Thousands of trade union members and their families can

:41:27.:41:30.

look forward to a more certain 2017, but that pensions are a dead. What

:41:31.:41:34.

will he do to make sure that pensions are protected, as well as

:41:35.:41:35.

their jobs? I join the honourable gentleman in

:41:36.:41:41.

welcoming and congratulating both the workforce and trade unions, and

:41:42.:41:46.

the employers, who had a very constructive set of discussions. It

:41:47.:41:53.

obviously needs to go to the membership and consultation of the

:41:54.:41:56.

membership needs to take place. But it's a positive step forward and he

:41:57.:42:02.

is right that it will provide some greater comfort this winter to

:42:03.:42:05.

employees. On the point of pensions, he will know and it's right and

:42:06.:42:09.

proper, that the independent pensions regulator rather than the

:42:10.:42:14.

government, must approve and must be content with arrangements and it

:42:15.:42:17.

would be wrong for the government to intervene in that. One of the best

:42:18.:42:22.

ways to support the British steel industry is for the government to

:42:23.:42:25.

invest in infrastructure. Would my right honourable friend agree and

:42:26.:42:32.

join me in praising the work of Sellafield steel based on my

:42:33.:42:35.

constituency, who were building the world's first Squash tennis style

:42:36.:42:42.

bridge is part of the looping ancestor? I will congratulate the

:42:43.:42:53.

company. It is very successful, not only the product which won the

:42:54.:42:56.

global award but they are responsible for construction at the

:42:57.:43:01.

Olympic Stadium, Birmingham new Street station, a lot of the

:43:02.:43:03.

buildings that we admire and having our minds are constructed with

:43:04.:43:11.

British Steel by British companies. Thank you. Whilst we've recently had

:43:12.:43:15.

somebody good news for the steel industry which gives and their

:43:16.:43:19.

families the stability they need for now, the fact that the steel was not

:43:20.:43:25.

mentioned in the Autumn Statement is cause for concern and furthermore,

:43:26.:43:29.

the fact that this UK Government leads a group of countries blocking

:43:30.:43:35.

the EU reform of anti-dumping trade defence instruments is a serious is

:43:36.:43:39.

discrete issue. Will the minister commit to including the steel

:43:40.:43:43.

industry in the future industrial strategy and detail the steps the

:43:44.:43:46.

government will take to support this vital foundation industry? Of

:43:47.:43:52.

course, steel is incredibly important and it's important that it

:43:53.:43:56.

should have a bright future. We all want to see that. One of the things

:43:57.:43:59.

that I've been doing with my honourable friend, working very

:44:00.:44:03.

closely with the steel industry on both the employer 's side and the

:44:04.:44:07.

trade union side, is to find and bring together a strategic review

:44:08.:44:13.

that the whole industry is coming together to work on. That is

:44:14.:44:18.

expressly designed to inform our industrial strategy, so we can look

:44:19.:44:22.

forward with confidence to a very successful steel industry in the

:44:23.:44:29.

future. With your permission, Mr Speaker, I answer this with question

:44:30.:44:33.

21. Local enterprise partnerships do extremely important work bringing

:44:34.:44:39.

together business inside, local authorities and universities to

:44:40.:44:43.

shape and support local growth, not least through growth deals which are

:44:44.:44:48.

finding it into projects. The grouping is with question number 18.

:44:49.:44:52.

Ministers have to keep their eye on the order paper. The numbers change

:44:53.:45:00.

over a period which will be obvious. There are 30,000 more businesses

:45:01.:45:03.

with high speed broadband in the Black Country as a result of the

:45:04.:45:07.

leadership of the Black Country local enterprise partnership. With

:45:08.:45:10.

the Minister agree with me that the black Country lap has been an

:45:11.:45:14.

excellent example bringing together the private and public sector to

:45:15.:45:19.

drive growth, improve skills and build the infrastructure that the

:45:20.:45:25.

Black Country economy needs. I thank my honourable friend for bringing

:45:26.:45:27.

that to the attention of the house. It's a fantastic opportunity. I hear

:45:28.:45:37.

great things about the chairmanship. I would like to pass on the

:45:38.:45:41.

congratulations of the government. At a time when investors had been

:45:42.:45:52.

having a hard time in the media,... What wider world does he envisage

:45:53.:45:57.

for these organisations and will he consider expanding the growing

:45:58.:46:01.

business fund? Can I thank my honourable friend for standing up

:46:02.:46:09.

for them. Can I assure him that these are part of the process of

:46:10.:46:12.

feeding into the industrial strategy. We are clear that that

:46:13.:46:16.

strategy needs to reflect deep understanding of the different

:46:17.:46:20.

challenges and opportunities each area faces and that's why the

:46:21.:46:25.

Secretary of State has allocated a ministerial... I will be brief. Some

:46:26.:46:33.

newspapers have exposed shocking examples of what I can only describe

:46:34.:46:37.

as crony capitalism when it comes to some of our laps. The former elected

:46:38.:46:42.

mayor of Bristol received more than ?50,000 for his own brewing firms

:46:43.:46:47.

while on the board which kept no minutes. Perhaps the Minister is

:46:48.:46:50.

impressed to find right wing politicians who can organise a booze

:46:51.:46:56.

up in a brewery. Given they are putting nearly ?2 billion into the

:46:57.:47:00.

Autumn Statement and going to laps, can he tell us what they are doing

:47:01.:47:04.

to enforce basic standards of accountability? I promise not to buy

:47:05.:47:11.

my dictionary where the honourable gentleman got his. Never trust

:47:12.:47:16.

Labour when they say they are going to be brief. He raises an extremely

:47:17.:47:22.

important point. This is taxpayers money. Any allegations about that

:47:23.:47:26.

money being spent in an inappropriate way, particularly when

:47:27.:47:30.

there are allegations around conflict of interest is something we

:47:31.:47:34.

take extremely seriously. In fact, looking at the allegations, we are

:47:35.:47:40.

reassured by the prompt and response -- robust response to these

:47:41.:47:46.

allegations. We continued to press and make the point strongly that we

:47:47.:47:53.

expect full compliance. Number one, Mr Speaker. Over the last month,

:47:54.:48:00.

we've made substantial progress across the department's

:48:01.:48:01.

responsibilities. Our recent review will make sure Britain is not only

:48:02.:48:04.

an excellent place to do business but also web as this is done best.

:48:05.:48:09.

We continue to tackle climate change, ratifying the Paris

:48:10.:48:14.

agreement, my honourable friend played an important part in the

:48:15.:48:18.

climate discussions in Marrakesh. I had a great pleasure of opening the

:48:19.:48:22.

Siemens wind turbine factory in Hull, creating 1000 new jobs. By

:48:23.:48:29.

providing an additional 2 billion a year by 2020 and living British

:48:30.:48:32.

homes and businesses certainty that their electricity demands will be

:48:33.:48:35.

met for the next five years, we are investing in our country's economic

:48:36.:48:41.

future. That was a fabulous introduction to my question about

:48:42.:48:46.

the Hendry review. I know the government has received it. I'm

:48:47.:48:50.

confident it has made some clear and useful recommendations. What I would

:48:51.:48:54.

like to know is does the government intend to make it public soon and

:48:55.:48:59.

what are its thoughts about some of his comments and recommendations? I

:49:00.:49:04.

am grateful to my honourable friend and I would like to put on record my

:49:05.:49:08.

gratitude to Charles Hendry for having written his report. I think

:49:09.:49:13.

it's important it is published soon. Charles Hendry is travelling at the

:49:14.:49:16.

moment but as soon as he is back, I will agree with him a date that he

:49:17.:49:20.

can publish it and then he can answer questions about it. It's a

:49:21.:49:24.

substantial document and my honourable friend will understand we

:49:25.:49:27.

will want to consider it and make a response in due course. New research

:49:28.:49:33.

from Edinburgh University finds electricity generation from wind

:49:34.:49:38.

farms cuts even more greenhouse gas emissions than previously known.

:49:39.:49:43.

It's the same as taking 2.3 million cars off the road. Meanwhile, the

:49:44.:49:47.

government's own figures predict their renewables cuts will see 63

:49:48.:49:51.

million tonnes more CO2 being released into the atmosphere. Will

:49:52.:49:55.

the Minister clarify how they plan to continue cutting emissions, as

:49:56.:50:03.

the leader of the house confirmed with me, while bringing in policies

:50:04.:50:07.

that will bind them up? What members need to understand is that topical

:50:08.:50:11.

questions were always intended to be brief. We cannot have these five

:50:12.:50:17.

senses questions. One once a brief question. In the New Year, we would

:50:18.:50:23.

be publishing our plan, which is a legal requirement for the government

:50:24.:50:26.

to set out exactly how we expect to meet our commitments. I thank the

:50:27.:50:32.

Minister, in relation to my private members Bill on the regulation of

:50:33.:50:37.

this laser pen. Can the Minister clarify when that consultation will

:50:38.:50:46.

start? I congratulate my honourable friend for all the wiki has done to

:50:47.:50:50.

bring the misuse of laser pointers to the attention of the government.

:50:51.:50:54.

The government is very concerned about the misuse of high-powered

:50:55.:50:59.

laser pointers and will be seeking evidence on potential options for

:51:00.:51:01.

tackling this misuse early next year. A review by academics at Leeds

:51:02.:51:08.

University business School and the University of Exeter found that for

:51:09.:51:14.

every pound invested in the union learning fund, there is a return of

:51:15.:51:18.

?12 and 70. This leads to an estimated net contribution to the

:51:19.:51:24.

economy of ?1.45 million and an estimated return to the Exchequer of

:51:25.:51:28.

the pound 57 for each ?1 spent. With this in mind, what steps are being

:51:29.:51:34.

made to ensure there is much, much better engagement? We look forward

:51:35.:51:41.

to reading this research. It's clearly Gottesman testing findings

:51:42.:51:47.

of which will take full note. A business in my constituency in the

:51:48.:51:51.

construction industry has alerted me to corporate mandate for, worry

:51:52.:51:55.

Forster pretends to be a company and asks its camps timbers to change

:51:56.:52:01.

bank account details. What steps can the Minister take to alert

:52:02.:52:04.

businesses and what discussions has he had with Home Secretary? I am

:52:05.:52:10.

grateful to my honourable friend for drawing attention to this type of

:52:11.:52:13.

fraud which affects businesses in all sectors. It is essential that

:52:14.:52:17.

business owners and staff know what to do when they are notified of

:52:18.:52:22.

changed bank account details and the best pointer in the first instance

:52:23.:52:26.

is advice available on the action fraud website. Research published

:52:27.:52:32.

this week by Scottish renewables shows that expertise is in demand

:52:33.:52:40.

around the world, Scottish companies being involved in 43 countries. What

:52:41.:52:45.

support world the UK Government give to the sector? The transition to

:52:46.:52:50.

cleaner energies is fundamental to our energy strategy and significant

:52:51.:52:55.

supply chain opportunities flow from that. In terms of the government's

:52:56.:53:01.

commitment, this country is seeing one of the fastest deployments of

:53:02.:53:07.

renewable energy across the country. We have renewed our commitment. With

:53:08.:53:13.

engineering and textiles doing particularly well in Holland this

:53:14.:53:15.

field at the moment, will the Department continued to commit to an

:53:16.:53:21.

industrial strategy? -- Huddersfield. I certainly will. It's

:53:22.:53:26.

very important that industrial strategy and business policy should

:53:27.:53:29.

recognise the strengths of particular places and Yorkshire is a

:53:30.:53:37.

particularly fine example. Two weeks ago, GB energy ceased trading

:53:38.:53:42.

affecting 160,000 customers. Credit to Chen for ensuring those customers

:53:43.:53:46.

were transferred to another supplier in a prompt. Does the Secretary of

:53:47.:53:56.

State believed that things need to change, so that more rigorous

:53:57.:54:00.

financial health checks undertaken to minimise the risk of failure,

:54:01.:54:04.

disruption to customers and loss of confidence. The honourable gentleman

:54:05.:54:13.

can now breathe! I am grateful and I would commend, as he has done, of

:54:14.:54:16.

chairman for the arrangements they put in place. I think you raises a

:54:17.:54:22.

very reasonable point. You will want to work with me to make sure we do

:54:23.:54:25.

have the right arrangements in place. Can my right honourable

:54:26.:54:32.

friend ensure that those who benefit from self-employment are aware that

:54:33.:54:35.

there are different kinds of national insurance contribution and

:54:36.:54:39.

ensure that they are able to pay the correct class, so that in the event

:54:40.:54:43.

they we the jobs market, they are able to access the full range of

:54:44.:54:48.

support available to other types of job-seeker? Earlier this year, the

:54:49.:54:51.

Prime Minister commissioned Matthew Taylor to carry out an independent

:54:52.:54:55.

review into modern employment practices, such as the example just

:54:56.:55:00.

given. It was part of ensuring we have an economy that works for

:55:01.:55:05.

everyone. I am sure my honourable friend will in addition consider the

:55:06.:55:12.

honourable member's suggestion. The energy intensive industries

:55:13.:55:17.

compensation scheme is due to end in April 20 17. The government has

:55:18.:55:21.

promised to bring forward legislation to exempt energy

:55:22.:55:24.

intensive industries from renewable obligations and tariffs. We are

:55:25.:55:28.

still waiting for that to happen. As things stand, the steel industry is

:55:29.:55:32.

looking down the barrel of having to go back to the crippling energy

:55:33.:55:35.

costs that it faced until the compensation package was in place.

:55:36.:55:39.

Can the Secretary of State assure us that measures will be put in place

:55:40.:55:40.

to ensure we don't go back to that The discussions we have had with the

:55:41.:55:52.

steel sector, they obviously emphasise the importance of energy

:55:53.:55:56.

costs and our commitment is to work with the sector to bring them down.

:55:57.:56:02.

Skills have been removed from his department portfolio, yet for many

:56:03.:56:05.

businesses in the Bradford district, access to talent remains a key

:56:06.:56:11.

challenge, so how will the Secretary of State ensure that education

:56:12.:56:14.

policy dovetails with his department priorities to make sure businesses

:56:15.:56:18.

have access to the skills that they leave? With higher and further

:56:19.:56:22.

education policy, apprenticeship and skills in a single department, the

:56:23.:56:27.

Government can take a comprehensive end to end you skills and education,

:56:28.:56:32.

this will support people from the early years through to postgraduate

:56:33.:56:39.

study and work. Is it not time for the Secretary of State to order an

:56:40.:56:42.

investigation into the processes of the Royal Bank of Scotland?

:56:43.:56:50.

The situation with the Royal Bank of Scotland is under review and

:56:51.:56:54.

proposals, I am sure, will be made in the near future. Now that the

:56:55.:57:00.

future of Hinkley Point is secure, what further plans does my right

:57:01.:57:04.

honourable friend have for nuclear energy to form a key part of energy

:57:05.:57:08.

supply? It is important that it should form

:57:09.:57:12.

a key part, one of the pieces of neglect of the previously the macro

:57:13.:57:16.

Government is that they presided over the forecast closure of nuclear

:57:17.:57:20.

fleets without any plans to replace it. When I made the statement about

:57:21.:57:24.

Hinkley Point see, I also said that this would be the beginning of a new

:57:25.:57:29.

era of civil nuclear power in this country, which is absolutely right.

:57:30.:57:40.

In the same week when we saw the merger with Tata Steel, we saw

:57:41.:57:43.

another merger. What risk assessment has been made about China and its

:57:44.:57:50.

facts on the British Steel industry? I join him in paying tribute to the

:57:51.:58:00.

companies and the trade unions who have worked constructively together,

:58:01.:58:05.

the progress is welcome. I have with my honourable friend a very regular

:58:06.:58:10.

dialogue with both the employers and the trade unions, we have been

:58:11.:58:14.

active, as he knows, in making sure that we have the right trait

:58:15.:58:19.

defences against unfair practices from countries that don't steal

:58:20.:58:25.

unfairly in the UK market. Though business rates are set by the

:58:26.:58:29.

valuations office agency rather than Government, I think it is right back

:58:30.:58:32.

Government tries to soften the blow for those most affected. Can the

:58:33.:58:37.

Minister expand on what he was doing to protect businesses using solar

:58:38.:58:40.

panels that have been adversely impacted by high business rates?

:58:41.:58:46.

My honourable friend is right to point out that these rates are set

:58:47.:58:49.

independently, she will know that the overall Met affected the reforms

:58:50.:58:55.

are to reduce business rates, she'll also know there is transitional

:58:56.:58:59.

relief in place. But she is right to highlight the challenge set by

:59:00.:59:03.

business installations for their own use and we are working through that

:59:04.:59:07.

as an issue. When will the Government publisher

:59:08.:59:11.

's response to the Law Commission report on consumer reap --

:59:12.:59:15.

prepayments on retail insolvency, we need to do more to protect consumers

:59:16.:59:19.

when businesses go into administration. I will noble lady's

:59:20.:59:24.

comments and I will write to her, I am sorry that I did not hear all of

:59:25.:59:30.

the question, I apologise. -- I will write the lady's comments.

:59:31.:59:36.

I know the company which provides high-quality, high wage, high skill.

:59:37.:59:41.

What consideration is being given to energy price competitiveness with

:59:42.:59:46.

European neighbours as a more competitive energy price would

:59:47.:59:48.

disproportionately benefit the Northern powerhouse. As I said to a

:59:49.:59:53.

number of honourable members, the energy prices paid by businesses

:59:54.:59:58.

generally, but energy intensive industries particularly, Oracle

:59:59.:00:00.

shall point of competitiveness and we wish to work with them to reduce

:00:01.:00:06.

cost. Nissan has benefited from the

:00:07.:00:11.

pre-Brexit deal, what a reassuring scan we offer Brighton -based

:00:12.:00:14.

businesses like American Express and EDF that they can still have an open

:00:15.:00:19.

and free relationship with the EU. American Express are a very

:00:20.:00:22.

important in Playa in Brighton and very welcome here. They came to

:00:23.:00:27.

locate in Britain because it is a fantastic place to do business bomb.

:00:28.:00:32.

Wherever I travel around the world, this is the message that I reported

:00:33.:00:37.

-- a fantastic place to do business from. He will know of recent success

:00:38.:00:42.

stories, I hope American Express will continue to invest more and

:00:43.:00:46.

employ more in his constituency. Following the collapse of the

:00:47.:00:53.

greater Lincolnshire devolution deal, events and Humber and

:00:54.:00:56.

Lincolnshire take on greater significance. There is concern that

:00:57.:01:00.

funding from central government might be lost as a result of the

:01:01.:01:05.

collapse of the deal, will it be used to channel funds from his

:01:06.:01:12.

department where suitable projects are identified? We regard local

:01:13.:01:18.

growth is being very important as a component of the industrial

:01:19.:01:22.

strategy, he knows I have been a big champion of local growth. I will

:01:23.:01:25.

want to see more of that. Obviously there are certain offers part of the

:01:26.:01:32.

proposed deal, but these are never compulsory and if the council some

:01:33.:01:35.

businesses do not want to proceed then Matt is a matter for them.

:01:36.:01:41.

With the Minister agree that as part of the industrial strategy that the

:01:42.:01:45.

future development of enterprise zones would be of great economic

:01:46.:01:50.

development, especially to the manufacturing sector? I agree that

:01:51.:01:55.

enterprise zones have been successful, they have provided some

:01:56.:02:00.

tax advantages but also provided in many cases a simplified regulatory

:02:01.:02:03.

environment, which is very attractive to businesses. I think

:02:04.:02:09.

there experience commends them. Order, statement the Secretary of

:02:10.:02:15.

State for Health. Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

:02:16.:02:28.

Mr Speaker, on the 12th of April this year I asked the sea QC to

:02:29.:02:33.

conduct an investigation into lessons that needed to be learned

:02:34.:02:40.

following the tragic death of Connor sparrowhawk in 2013 at seven health

:02:41.:02:46.

NHS Trust. I want to start by paying tribute to his family, particularly

:02:47.:02:51.

his mother, Sara Ryan, but her persistent and determined

:02:52.:02:55.

campaigning for a proper investigation into what happened.

:02:56.:02:59.

The lessons of mid-Staffs, Morecambe Bay and other injustices like

:03:00.:03:02.

Hillsborough is that when families speak out, we must listen. In this

:03:03.:03:06.

case, thanks

:03:07.:03:07.

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