Live Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions House of Commons


Live Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions

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the day, at 11 o'clock tonight. First we have questions from the

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business, energy and industrial strategy secretary Greg Clark and

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his team of ministers. Questions on energy strategy. Question one Mr

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Speaker. Mr Nick Hurd. I will ask this question with Foran 14. Between

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1990 and 2015 hour missions have fallen over a third while our

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economy has grown over 60%, since 2010 policy has contributed to the

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state-run bling of renewable electricity capacity. I thank the

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Minister for his answer, businesses and Scottish renewables sector

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predict that one in six jobs are at risk in the next six months due to

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changes in government support. Will the government take action now to

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make sure that we grasp the opportunities that our fantastic

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energy resources provide. Few countries certainly in Europe done

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more to expand renewable energy and electricity capacity since 2010, and

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the economy sector now employs over 220,000 people. She's questioning

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our continuing commitment to renewable energy, I refer her to the

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public commitment to the forthcoming thing to secure less renewable --

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assessment your renewable technologies. This report, and

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another one on North American biomass both concluded that the use

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of these pellets, are high carbon. Given that, there was a review

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promised in 2012, will the government conduct an urgent review,

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a moratorium on new subsidies for biomass. As the honourable gentleman

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knows, we have reviewed and adjusted this in relation to biomass and we

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will keep that under regular reviews. Thank you Mr Speaker given

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that Scotland's renewable energy will be cheaper than that produced

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at Hinkley Point by the time it is complete and Brexit is already

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pushing out build cost in an environment where the UK Government

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has unilaterally decided to abandon the protection of Europe Tom. Will

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we scrap the costly nuclear accession instead replace it with

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nuclear. You bless me with powers I'd date possess. Previous

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governments, neglected the power infrastructure, this is a challenge

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that the government is gripping. As I said before, few countries have

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done more to make the transition to cleaner energy, a trebling of

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capacity in terms of renewable electricity and the commitment to

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Hinkley Point offers are so potential, 7% of the electricity,

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low carbon -based power. Colleagues in both houses have signed an

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offshore blade, on the Isle of Wight. While also arranging a

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schools outreach programme. With my right honourable friend agree that

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this sort of initiative raises awareness of how low-carbon

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renewable energy technology can insure, that the UK reaches its

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potential of exporting its first-class engineering and advanced

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manufacturing worldwide? I thank my honourable friend and I wholly

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endorse what he is saying, and the Secretary of State and myself saw

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first visiting this new Siemens offshore wind blade turbine factory

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in Hull, just what this technology and engineering can do to inspire

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particularly young people in the area about opportunities for

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employment in this exciting sector. Layla nuclear power is an important

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part of the transition to a low carbon economy, can the minister

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update us on the small reactor competition. Can I welcome the

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ladies election to the select committee. She is right, any

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innovation is critical to our future ability to reducing the cost of geek

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organisation. To unlocking, the opportunity, so we are reviewing our

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plans, I feel I can say that the nuclear industry is a very important

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part of those plans and I hope we will have something to say shortly.

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In the south-west we don't share the SNP's negative view on the Hinkley

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Point power station project. Will he reassure me about what work the

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government is doing to ensure that the young people have the skills to

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take the jobs in these industries? I thank my honourable friend for

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correcting the impression that investment in new jobs in the

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nuclear industry is somehow bad news given the commitment that 75% of the

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content of Hinkley Point should be supplied from this country. But just

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as important is the contribution it makes to upgrading the power

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infrastructure to make sure that the country has the ability to access

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reliable low-carbon stuff in the future. Last week the budget failed

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to stop the 800% rise in business rates for companies that installed

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solar panels, this week research published in the journal nature

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energy says that to achieve our targets in the Paris agreement, we

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need to set out longer-term plans beyond 2050, the government has now

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dithered for five years and still refuses to publish its own

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implementation plan, even up to 2030. How does the minister proposed

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to increase the low-carbon exports when he can't even set out how we

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will achieve the medium-term targets. The honourable gentleman

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accuses us of dithering, if you see is the performance on emissions, one

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of the most successful, since 1990. He talks about delaying the

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emissions, and also, the fifth carbon budget was only set last

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July. This country and this government has a very proud record

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in terms of proving that we can reduce emissions while growing the

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economy. The 30 large wind turbines in Kettering Borough, is becoming

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very close to generating more green electricity than it consumes. But

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what incentives are there in the business rate system, the planning

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system, to award housing developments and business start-ups

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that are low-carbon? I thank my honourable friend for pointing out

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how much progress we are making at the local level as well as the

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national level in terms of the transition. That has been

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facilitated by a series of substantial investment, through

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public subsidies, and we review now, as we look to encourage the

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deployment of renewable energy through competitive markets, what

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else we can do through the tools of government to facilitate that. Our

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concern on Hinkley Point is that the government appears to be stacking

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the deck in favour of nuclear power over much cheaper renewable energy.

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The strike price for Hinckley was 92.5 in 2012 compare to a much lower

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82.54 offshore wind in 2015. Yet when looking in the value for money

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assessment, the government assumes a 90 strike price for renewables, they

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inflating the pricing pass on to Hinckley? I hope the honourable

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gentleman doesn't want to give the wrong impression, he knows with his

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expense that one of the keys to successful energy policies died

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averse to supply. That is the key of energy security. And ensuring that

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diversity of supply is what we are trying to do as a government. The

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Minister has completely missed the point about the comparison and they

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commission frontier economic to look at the whole impact of electricity

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generation models. Despite repeated Parliamentary questions, that report

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has not been published. Mr Speaker if the government has nothing to

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hide, why are they hiding things? I'm not aware of hiding anything,

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I'm making a point of the diverse energy supply. One of the most

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encouraging things is the progress that we have made in terms of policy

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structure to drive greater competition, to get better prices

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for consumers and the taxpayer from the public subsidies available, and

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I hope that will be evident very soon in the results of the

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forthcoming auctions. We are committed to making the UK the

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global go to nation for scientists, in orators and tech investors, and

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that is why as part of the industrial strategy, we will

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announce the increase of ?4.7 billion in public are indeed funds,

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the biggest increase in site support for 40 years. I welcome the

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government 's recent 40 million investment, and development in space

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technology including the university led National space Park. Could the

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minister tell a house what further steps you can take to encourage the

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space industrial cluster in the Midlands? The space industry has an

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important role to play in driving growth across the UK and the

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government is working closely with the centre to make this a reality.

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I'm pleased that Leicestershire is grasping this. The satellite

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applications catapult has funded a centre of excellence, focused on

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linking industry to local and national expertise, in addition, the

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UK space agency is supporting business incubators in Leicester,

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Nottingham and Loughborough to develop innovative start-ups. The

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page 98 of the government industrial strategy talks about the importance

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of long-term institutions and many of those who work in science and

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industry in Wirral and elsewhere feel that the single market is a

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long-term is that you should that has served them well. Can I ask the

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Minister whether he has asked the Prime Minister to change course and

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keep our country in the single market. The UK is indeed a

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powerhouse for academic research and collaborations with institutions in

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Europe and around the world are an important part of that success. We

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want through the industrial strategy to continue to play to a great

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strengths as a science and research powerhouse and we will continue to

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welcome agreement to collaborate with our European partners on major

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science and technology programmes in years to come. Agri- science is

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playing a vital part in this industrial strategy but more can be

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done. Is the minister whereof the excellent work, of a constituency

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which is exporting it all over the world?

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I am indeed aware of the excellent work that is undertaken by that

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institution and the honourable members in my honourable friend's

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constituency. Considerable source port is being received through our

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investment in R The European medicines agency, a European

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institution based in the UK, is one of the reasons why our farming

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industry is so successful -- pharmaceutical industry is so

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successful. When we crash out of the EU, what will happen to that

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organisation and what is the science Mr doing to make sure we have

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effective regulations which support our pharmacology and history? She

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should wait until we have embarked upon the negotiations our future

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relationship with European funding streams and we will anticipate

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continuing to collaborate closely with our European partners so that

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our scientists can develop institutions such as the one she

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mentions. Bill yesterday I talked about science technology business

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which is on the British Chamber of Commerce business of the year and

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export business of the year. Can my right honourable friend join me in

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congratulating that business for championing and promoting the best

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of British science and research? I'm delighted to be able to congratulate

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them and it is companies like those that are really doing well at

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exploiting the research undertaken to the benefit of this country,

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maximising commercial opportunities from the significant public

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investment we are putting into R and D. Looking beyond the two-year

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period when we exit the EU, wilderness to ensure that liaison

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with the devolved institutions will be restored before then, so that

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excellent facilities like the science centres in Belfast and

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Londonderry can be availed of an replicated right across the UK to

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ensure we get the maximum advantage? Through the creation of UK research

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and innovation, which is a UK wide global funding and research agency,

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we will continue to ensure that excellent science and research is

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supported throughout the UK in years to come. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The

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oil and gas sector is very important for the UK economy, energy security

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and jobs. That's why over the past two years the Government has

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established the oil and gas authority as a strong independent

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regulator and provided a ?2.3 billion package of support to

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encourage investment and exploration in the UK. In the spring budget last

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week, the Chancellor and as the government will consider how tax can

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be used to assist sales of oil and gas assets in the North Sea, helping

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to keep unproductive the longer. Does this government stand by

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comments made by the Scottish Conservatives energy spokesman

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Alexander Burnett and must be that the oil and gas industry does not

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need any help, saying people in Aberdeen are not asking for any more

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at the moment? I'm not sure I entirely caught the remarks he

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mentions but the Government has been very clear in its support not just

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for the UK continental shelf and the companies on it but in support for

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Aberdeen through the ?250 million city deal we have announced. Is my

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honourable friend aware that at this very moment crude oil is trading at

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$48.31 per barrel? As he read the report by the OECD which says that

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because of this and many other structural factors, an independent

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Scotland would have a worse debt per population ratio than even Greece?

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I'm sure my colleague will understand that I'm not going to

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comment on the specific economic issues he raises. What I would say,

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however, and I admire him for his spot awareness of the oil spot

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price, is that we as a government have managed to engineer a

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significant fall in oil and gas supply costs on the continental

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shelf. Order! Mr Boswell, a cerebral minister is at the box responding to

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a pertinent inquiry and the honourable gentleman is very and

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characteristically behaving in a mildly boorish fashion. But I'm sure

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it is an exceptional case. -- uncharacteristically. I'm not sure

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anyone can recover from the accusation of being cerebral! Let me

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just say that the way the oil and gas authority has lowered costs is

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itself a testimony to how competitive our economy can be in

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oil and gas, even where oil and gas prices are falling. Thank you very

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much indeed. The UK space sector is world leading. A quarter of the

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world's telecommunication satellites are either built here all with key

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UK components. Our recently announced space flight bill will now

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UK businesses tend a global market with an expected ?25 billion over

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the next 20 years and our industrial strategy will ensure we build on

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this and continue to be a global leader in this important sector.

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Many people think my constituency, North Swindon, is out of this world

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and they are not wrong as we are home to the UK space agency. Will

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they tell me how the upcoming space bill will enable the UK to build on

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our strengths in science, research and innovation? It has a stellar

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member of Parliament, as well! It is one of our most important industries

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and the space flight bill in particular will move us forward and

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enable us to be in the business not only of manufacturing satellites but

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launching them, which gives us further industrial opportunities

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that I know not just Swindon but the whole of the UK can benefit from.

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A collaborative approach of the UK aerospace sector is one of the

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lessons that this Government needs to remember in the difficult years

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that are moving ahead. Will the Secretary of State please come to

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one of the most important aerospace sectors in the country, North East

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Wales, see the excellent work that is being carried forward and the

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potential threats that now exist to one of the most successful

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industries in our country? I'm grateful to him for his point

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and he is right that one of the reasons that the space and satellite

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sector has been so successful is the collaboration between firms there

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and government and research institutions. That is very much the

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way forward and my honourable friend the Parliamentary undersecretary is

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going to visit North Wales and the facilities he mentions and I look

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forward to hearing from him all about it. Somebody who has

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calculated inertia matrices, I'm very pleased that the government has

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a focus on this area. Can he tell me what assessment he has made for the

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capacity for the UK commercial space flight sector and what steps he is

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going to take to supported? I'm glad he is not questioning me on inertia

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ratios and matrices! The capacity is there but it requires planning

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ahead, which is why the industrial strategy mentions the need to invest

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in science and research and development - very important that we

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should do that and that we should look forward to make sure we have

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the skills that can fulfil the order books. That is the purpose of having

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a long-term industrial strategy, so we are prepared to reach those

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opportunities. -- reap. With a mission, I'll answer this

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together with number nine. Small businesses are vital to the economy

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and we are providing additional access to finance and support to

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help scale businesses to enable them to reap the benefits from future

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trade with the EU and the rest of the world. Can I start by wishing

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everybody a happy parade day -- Pi day. The UK government failed to

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consult the business community on the changes to national insurance

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for the self-employed. Will the government now tackle the ongoing

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uncertainty that these changes could bring to work as' rights, such as

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maternity, paternity pay, sick pay, annual leave and pensions? The

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Government is absolutely committed, as the Prime Minister has said on

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several occasions, to protect workers' rights as we leave the

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European Union and not just to protect them but also to enhance

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them if necessary, and she has set up a review to examine the details.

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I'm sad to note the absence, rather uncharacteristic, the honourable

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gentleman but we will do our best to bear up with such fortitude as we

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can muster. In the oil and gas sector, there are a number of small

:20:49.:20:51.

businesses in the supply chain that have been hit disproportionately by

:20:52.:20:55.

the oil price reduction. Myself and the honourable member for Aberdeen

:20:56.:20:59.

South held a meeting last week to encourage members to access

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different methods of capital finance to grow. What is the UK government

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doing to encourage these businesses to access capital finance? Although

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support for business in Scotland is largely devolved, the British

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business bank does fund a vast number of companies in Scotland.

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?415 million of finance for Scottish companies, including the start-up

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loan, and over 1600 companies in Scotland benefit from the enterprise

:21:31.:21:40.

Finance guarantee scheme. SMEs are the backbone of the south-west and

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much effort is being put into upping productivity in the region and in

:21:45.:21:49.

Taunton Deane, we recognise the recent government investment in

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infrastructure and the work being done on skills but to give us a real

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Filipe, would my right horrible friend agreed to come, or perhaps

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someone from the department, to the Taunton annual business partners

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conference on the 16th of June to boost the idea is that this

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government can help us with? I thank my honourable friend for such a

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wonderful invitation and although I have already been to the south-west,

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I'm sure I can find an occasion on June six to do so again.

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The honourable lady looks as though her cup has run of over. What a

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happy day for the honourable lady and, indeed, for Taunton Deane, not

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to mention the Minister. Thank you, Mr Speaker. One advantage for small

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businesses of the United Kingdom leaving the EU is that this House

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will be free to be able to repeal unwanted EU regulations. Can the

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ministers say what steps she is taking to consult with small

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businesses to be able to identify those regulations quite well

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I can assure him we consult small businesses all the time and the

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department for exiting the EU engages regularly with the

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Federation of Small Businesses and we will be asking that department to

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hold a round table for small businesses to discuss the very

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issues he raises in due course. And the honourable member is so keen

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to hear my to this question. -- I'm glad. We support small businesses by

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ensuring they can access wider support. The British business bank

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are already supporting with 3.4 billion finance over 54,000 small

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businesses and I am leading a task force to enable SMEs to accelerate

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their growth potential and realise their growth prospects. From my own

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experience I know that rugby is a great place to run a business,

:24:11.:24:15.

however many small businesses continued to tell me that an

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obstacle to their expanding remains a shortage of suitable industrial

:24:19.:24:22.

premises so at a time when our local authority is preparing its local

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plan, I wonder what discussions my honourable friend has had with

:24:26.:24:30.

counterparts at DCLG to ensure adequate land is allocated for the

:24:31.:24:36.

development of businesses. In answer to my honourable friend, we work

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closely with the department for Communities and Local Government and

:24:41.:24:42.

I weaselly co-chaired a successful round table with the Minister of

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state for Mr and planning. -- recently co-chaired. We will be

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having a further meeting and I will take into consideration the needs of

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businesses in rugby for more space. Small businesses in Doncaster have

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expressed concern to me about how to access apprenticeships. Will

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minister work with the DfEE and draw a regional analysis, especially in

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Yorkshire and the Humber, of how small businesses can find effective

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ways to access those schemes, especially in the light of the

:25:20.:25:24.

apprenticeship Levy? We will certainly talk to businesses in the

:25:25.:25:27.

Doncaster region, as elsewhere in the Yorkshire area, but I'm

:25:28.:25:34.

delighted to say that only 1.3% businesses will actually pay the

:25:35.:25:37.

apprenticeship Levy and for all other businesses, particularly small

:25:38.:25:41.

businesses, the Government will fund 90 % of their training costs

:25:42.:25:45.

following the introduction of the Levy proper next month. Last week's

:25:46.:25:51.

business rates announcement by my right honourable friend the

:25:52.:25:54.

Chancellor will be welcome relief to hundreds of independent small

:25:55.:25:56.

businesses in my constituency. Wilderness to join me in

:25:57.:26:02.

congratulating Visit Bass as they focus more attention to marketing

:26:03.:26:05.

the domestic and international markets out of our independent small

:26:06.:26:08.

businesses, which will bring jobs and growth in our constituency? I

:26:09.:26:12.

absolutely join with my honourable friend in congratulating Visit Bath

:26:13.:26:17.

in all the trade and ideas that that organisation brings to local SMEs.

:26:18.:26:23.

Many thanks Mr Speaker as chair of the disability all Parliamentary

:26:24.:26:31.

group, I have been hearing from people, saying that there are stark

:26:32.:26:37.

far too many barriers. This includes information even that on government

:26:38.:26:41.

Gateway that is accessible. So what specific measures are the government

:26:42.:26:45.

taking to support disabled entrepreneurs and what more can be

:26:46.:26:48.

done to address these very important issues. I thank durable lady for her

:26:49.:26:54.

excellent question, I do work closely for the Minister of people

:26:55.:27:00.

with disabilities and she is leading huge initiatives, to improve

:27:01.:27:04.

opportunities for people with disabilities and I will raise the

:27:05.:27:08.

specific question of entrepreneurs with disabilities with her. The

:27:09.:27:14.

truth is that the government has got to show a lot more love for small

:27:15.:27:19.

businesses. To reinforce the truth that the concerned parties the party

:27:20.:27:23.

from the printer is. Can my honourable friend the Minister start

:27:24.:27:29.

that, by eliminating the time limits on DIS investment on small

:27:30.:27:33.

businesses and finding a way, after we leave the EU that compliance with

:27:34.:27:38.

regulations for small businesses can be produced to a single checkmark --

:27:39.:27:44.

IES investment. I thank the honourable friend, as he knows I'm a

:27:45.:27:48.

great lover of small businesses, and entrepreneurs. I think that I can

:27:49.:27:53.

speak for the rest of the government in that, he knows that the EU

:27:54.:27:58.

governs those time limits and caps on DIS schemes at the moment and

:27:59.:28:02.

what happens post-Brexit negotiations will be a matter for

:28:03.:28:09.

the Treasury. Thank you, to speed don't think small businesses are

:28:10.:28:11.

really feeling the love after the budget week. The Federation of small

:28:12.:28:16.

business produced a report entitled 37 problems and tax is one. They

:28:17.:28:23.

said that the proposed national insurance tax grab is an absolute

:28:24.:28:26.

kick in the teeth for small business, just at a time that we

:28:27.:28:29.

need to create more entrepreneurs, not fewer. When the Minster said the

:28:30.:28:36.

government consults the Federation of small business, perhaps in the

:28:37.:28:40.

future they might listen to them and do what they suggest. Well I think

:28:41.:28:44.

that the small business world feels more love from this side of a house

:28:45.:28:48.

than they would from the opposition, were they to take our place in

:28:49.:28:53.

government. But on the specific question that he raises, the FSB I

:28:54.:28:57.

know lobbied hard on a number of points on national insurance, on

:28:58.:29:01.

also on business rates. And on quarterly reporting of tax accounts.

:29:02.:29:09.

On the latter two, they were very pleased with the outcome that the

:29:10.:29:14.

Chancellor provided and with regard to national insurance, he knows that

:29:15.:29:19.

over 60% of people, who are self-employed, will actually benefit

:29:20.:29:22.

from the changes that were mooted by the Chancellor last week. Chris

:29:23.:29:33.

Green. Thank you, as a matter of fact Mr Speaker just yesterday I was

:29:34.:29:36.

a few miles away from the gentleman 's constituency in Carrington,

:29:37.:29:41.

opening a new combined cycle gas turbine plant. And if you weeks

:29:42.:29:46.

before that I was in Folkestone for the new interconnect is being built

:29:47.:29:49.

through the Channel Tunnel. What these remind us of is the government

:29:50.:29:53.

's commitment to the UK energy infrastructure underscored by a

:29:54.:29:59.

capacity market and contracts for difference. We are also investing

:30:00.:30:05.

?320 million in new seat in the structure, and I think that

:30:06.:30:07.

undergirds the size of the whole thing. The bases and G supplier is

:30:08.:30:14.

fundamental to live ring the energy needs, since some do not provide

:30:15.:30:18.

baseload and there is pressure not to increase the consumption of

:30:19.:30:21.

hydrocarbons, does my right honourable friend agree with me that

:30:22.:30:26.

in the absence of energy storage capacity, future investment must go

:30:27.:30:29.

to the nuclear industry, perhaps small modular reactors. As he will

:30:30.:30:37.

know, we are spending a great deal of time working on developers with

:30:38.:30:42.

new investment alongside the plans already being executed at Hinkley

:30:43.:30:45.

Point. Small modular reactors are potentially part of that

:30:46.:30:49.

conversation. It is worth saying that the likelihood, there are many

:30:50.:30:53.

outcomes of possible technologies of which storage will come on stream

:30:54.:30:57.

over the next decade or two, that will also undoubtedly be part of the

:30:58.:31:03.

picture. The country needs 21st-century systems like smart

:31:04.:31:06.

metering, can the minister update the house on the progress of the

:31:07.:31:09.

roll-out and Cani have a word with the energy companies to stop them

:31:10.:31:14.

blaming this government for being part of a height in energy prices

:31:15.:31:19.

that is ripping off the consumer. We are in no doubt at all about the

:31:20.:31:22.

need for the energy companies to bear down on prices and as they will

:31:23.:31:28.

be aware, the cost of those policies are a relatively small part of it.

:31:29.:31:34.

Tidal energy gives the UK an opportunity to find clean

:31:35.:31:36.

predictable sources of renewable energy. It is a sector where we have

:31:37.:31:40.

world leading businesses. Will my right honourable friend consider

:31:41.:31:46.

giving tidal a higher priorities so that we can maintain our competitive

:31:47.:31:51.

edge? The honourable lady will know that we are looking at tidal energy

:31:52.:31:54.

and related issues closely in the context of our consideration of the

:31:55.:32:03.

review. Doctor John Pugh? When a final decision will be made on the

:32:04.:32:09.

Swansea tidal thing? I think it is fair to say that we will be coming

:32:10.:32:14.

to the house as soon as we can for the matter is presently under

:32:15.:32:20.

consideration. The minister mentioned is the capacity market and

:32:21.:32:23.

I'm sure he will agree with me that the prime purpose of that market has

:32:24.:32:28.

been to procure new infrastructure capacity. Can the Minister tell me

:32:29.:32:32.

how many new gas-fired power stations had been procured by ?3.4

:32:33.:32:37.

billion that has been spent so far on the capacity market and what

:32:38.:32:41.

plans does he have to improve that number, and to be helpful the answer

:32:42.:32:45.

is one new power plant in King's Lynn. I'm all in favour of the self

:32:46.:32:56.

answering question, Mr Speaker. Might I just remind you that the

:32:57.:33:01.

last capacity market, procured energy at a cost of ?7 per kilowatt

:33:02.:33:07.

hour which I think is cheaper than any possible conceivable

:33:08.:33:16.

alternative. With no common definition of the gig economy,

:33:17.:33:19.

numbers vary in terms of how many workers are involved in it so we

:33:20.:33:22.

have commissioned new research that will be published this summer and it

:33:23.:33:26.

will look at the number of individuals working through digital

:33:27.:33:29.

platforms in the UK and their experiences. The number of

:33:30.:33:35.

freelancing mums has increased by 79% since 2008, whilst I remember,

:33:36.:33:41.

the government 's announcement, on fairer maternity pay, this was

:33:42.:33:46.

recommended 13 months ago, why is it taking the government so long to act

:33:47.:33:49.

on this crucial issue for these women when it took a stroke of a pen

:33:50.:33:57.

to increase their taxes? Well as I said in my previous answers, the

:33:58.:34:01.

increase in taxes under review, will be ruling out in terms of the

:34:02.:34:09.

maternity and paternity issues that she raises I should hasten to add.

:34:10.:34:17.

And, that consultation will run its course this summer, and she will

:34:18.:34:25.

have an answer the end of the year. Mr Speaker does the Minister begin

:34:26.:34:28.

to understand the sense of grievance on the part of the growing army of

:34:29.:34:34.

the self-employed, who are reluctant conscripts to self-employment in the

:34:35.:34:39.

gig economy, that they work in a twilight world of insecurity without

:34:40.:34:43.

basic rights, are now having to pay more in tax, when there was not one

:34:44.:34:48.

measure in the budget that put the burden on the shoulders of those

:34:49.:34:51.

truly responsible, the goobers of this world. The right honourable

:34:52.:35:00.

gentleman knows that we have in place the Taylor review that is

:35:01.:35:02.

currently examining all of the issues that he raises, I'm very

:35:03.:35:11.

concerned about the plight of some low paid workers who may be workers

:35:12.:35:15.

rather than self-employed and valleys up to the courts and the

:35:16.:35:18.

government to conclude later this year but I can assure him that we to

:35:19.:35:21.

take the issues that he raises very seriously. Thank you Mr Speaker

:35:22.:35:28.

thank you very much indeed, with your permission Mr Speaker, I'd like

:35:29.:35:32.

to answer this question together with question 14. Last week we

:35:33.:35:35.

published the Midlands engine strategy. It is further

:35:36.:35:43.

demonstration that this government is committed to investing in the

:35:44.:35:49.

Midlands, a region that has seen over 180,000 more people in

:35:50.:35:56.

employment since 2010. I thank the Minister for his reply. Increasing

:35:57.:36:00.

investment, inward investment from businesses in the automotive supply

:36:01.:36:03.

chain, such as Polytech and Magna Carta bringing Weald jobs and growth

:36:04.:36:09.

to it. Does the Minister agree that Telford is set to play a key role in

:36:10.:36:14.

the engine strategy with its reputation for innovation and

:36:15.:36:16.

advanced manufacturing and will he congratulate these businesses on

:36:17.:36:19.

helping to build a successful business future for Telford? My

:36:20.:36:23.

honourable friend's constituency of Telford which includes Coalbrookdale

:36:24.:36:29.

has a good claim to be the cradle of the first Industrial Revolution. It

:36:30.:36:41.

has a good claim, it is disputed. I think Derby is fairly early. Now it

:36:42.:36:44.

is at the heart of the fourth Industrial Revolution. Absolutely

:36:45.:36:50.

the T54 site is proving to be a very important location for the supply

:36:51.:36:55.

chain for the automotive sector. With the secretary of state agree

:36:56.:36:58.

with me that one of the pivotal things that is needed to be in an

:36:59.:37:02.

industrial strategy for the West Midlands is to close the skill gap

:37:03.:37:05.

which is held back in the West Midlands for too long so that areas

:37:06.:37:09.

like the Black Country can continue to work to become leading

:37:10.:37:14.

specialists in areas like aerospace, automotive, advanced manufacturing

:37:15.:37:17.

which I know are critical on the agenda of the Conservative candidate

:37:18.:37:23.

for the West Midlands now. I agree with my honourable friend, he is

:37:24.:37:28.

absolutely right, the reputation of the Black Country, is very strong.

:37:29.:37:34.

There is a phrase, made in the Black Country, sold around the world. But

:37:35.:37:37.

in order to do that you need good skills. Andy Street, being a person

:37:38.:37:43.

of great expense in business, is the best person available to bring that

:37:44.:37:46.

business acumen to bring in more businesses to the whole of the West

:37:47.:37:52.

Midlands. Hearing about an industrial strategy rather than an

:37:53.:37:57.

electoral strategy, but here you go. The Black Country is the birthplace

:37:58.:38:02.

of Industrial Revolution. Can I ask the Secretary of State in terms of

:38:03.:38:06.

transport spending, which is a key for the industrial strategy, when he

:38:07.:38:11.

expects to persuade his colleagues Secretary of State for Transport to

:38:12.:38:14.

spend as much per capita Ron the West Midlands as he does in London.

:38:15.:38:19.

The honourable gentleman who is an assiduous reader of these things,

:38:20.:38:24.

will see that in his industrial strategy, we propose a commitment,

:38:25.:38:29.

to in the structure right across the country. I hope he will respond to

:38:30.:38:33.

that, so that when we have the budget later in the year, we will be

:38:34.:38:37.

in a position to make further such announcements. Thank you Mr Speaker,

:38:38.:38:47.

can my right honourable friend of, talk about particular those in Mike

:38:48.:38:52.

assiduous of North Warwickshire. The board have a very important role to

:38:53.:38:56.

play, one of the trends that colleagues across all sides of the

:38:57.:39:00.

house will know, is that the development of supply chains, one of

:39:01.:39:03.

the key sources of innovation in many industries, and within that,

:39:04.:39:08.

start-up businesses including those by the self-employed can make a big

:39:09.:39:12.

contribution to making us attractive for jobs and new businesses. Mr

:39:13.:39:20.

Speaker, with your permission I will answer this with question 16, I

:39:21.:39:26.

think I'm right in saying. We have had great success over the years, in

:39:27.:39:30.

developing key sectors including aerospace and the automotive sector.

:39:31.:39:35.

To build on this we have set up proposals for a new business led

:39:36.:39:38.

sector deals in the dust shall strategy. The first set of deals are

:39:39.:39:42.

already under development, and we are taking steps to drive growth in

:39:43.:39:45.

sectors across the economy including with funding four sides, and

:39:46.:39:54.

education. Does the Secretary of State share my concern for the

:39:55.:39:57.

fermentation of industrial strategy will focus solely on the big

:39:58.:40:00.

players, what does he do to ensure that the SMEs in those sectors, get

:40:01.:40:06.

their FSA and their fair share? The honourable gentleman, that is not

:40:07.:40:10.

the case, I have regular discussions with the Federation of small

:40:11.:40:14.

business, with the British Chambers of commerce, and the smaller

:40:15.:40:18.

businesses right across the country. The supply chain, and making our

:40:19.:40:22.

country more attractive to supply chain businesses, is absolutely

:40:23.:40:29.

foundation to success. That is particularly in regard to the small

:40:30.:40:33.

businesses. Side security is one of the most important sectors of this

:40:34.:40:37.

growth but the UK has the highest skills gap in cyber security in the

:40:38.:40:41.

world. Does the Secretary of State think that the government 's current

:40:42.:40:45.

commitment to educate 1% of our students by 2021 in cyber security

:40:46.:40:49.

is anywhere near enough? I think the honourable lady makes a very good

:40:50.:40:53.

point, if we are to take advantage of the opportunities that are there,

:40:54.:40:57.

we need to upgrade our technical education. That is why in the budget

:40:58.:41:02.

last week the Chancellor made such a clear commitment, prominence in the

:41:03.:41:07.

industrial strategy, to transform the level of technical education

:41:08.:41:12.

including to increase by 50% the hours of tuition that are available.

:41:13.:41:22.

Thank you. I welcome a ?90 million in the budget that the Chancellor

:41:23.:41:28.

has given for PHP places. I would like to ask the Secretary of State

:41:29.:41:32.

whether he has determined how they will be distributed and whether the

:41:33.:41:36.

academically excellent area of Cambridgeshire will benefit from

:41:37.:41:40.

this funding. Yes, Mr Speaker. I would expect all competitive places

:41:41.:41:46.

to make a bid for these places and in Cambridgeshire, both the

:41:47.:41:50.

University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin and other institutions more

:41:51.:41:53.

broadly across the country will be in a good position to benefit from

:41:54.:42:02.

these. The aerospace sector is vital importance to my constituency and I

:42:03.:42:09.

was delighted to take place as a ground-breaking ceremony for

:42:10.:42:11.

Rolls-Royce on a new site. How can the government help grow the

:42:12.:42:18.

aerospace sector? It has been an important -- an important sector and

:42:19.:42:23.

our discussions this morning reflect the track record of working together

:42:24.:42:28.

and that will continue and be reinforced. I think all members

:42:29.:42:30.

across the House will have been as delighted as I was that Boeing made

:42:31.:42:36.

a commitment to their first ever UK plant in Sheffield, showing how

:42:37.:42:40.

attractive we are too advanced manufacturing businesses like that.

:42:41.:42:48.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The select committee recent report stated that

:42:49.:42:53.

the green paper provides little clarity on how things will work in

:42:54.:42:59.

practice and that it appears to lack political will, falling short of

:43:00.:43:03.

providing a clear framework for decision-making in the long term so

:43:04.:43:06.

I ask the Secretary of State, is it lack of clarity or lack of political

:43:07.:43:11.

will that has led to a bespoke Brexit deal for certain

:43:12.:43:14.

manufacturers whilst leaving others and other industries in a state of

:43:15.:43:21.

uncertainty. Can I wrote them her to her first oral questions on this and

:43:22.:43:28.

I see her predecessor before her. She is my third opposite number in

:43:29.:43:31.

the eight months since I've had this job. The first was appointed in the

:43:32.:43:36.

summer, the second in the autumn and she was appointed in the winter. I

:43:37.:43:40.

notice this week the birds were singing and the sun was out so I

:43:41.:43:43.

hope this is not bad news for the honourable lady! In terms of apology

:43:44.:43:48.

asked about the industrial strategy, the sector deals that we have

:43:49.:43:53.

proposed have been widely welcomed. We have set out a number of initial

:43:54.:44:00.

deals in life sciences, for example, in the creative industries. We are

:44:01.:44:03.

already talking to other sectors such as the steel sector but I know

:44:04.:44:06.

a lot of colleagues in the House would want to see taken forward. Oh,

:44:07.:44:13.

the Secretary of State is cheeky! But he might want to refer to the

:44:14.:44:17.

report because it also states that the White Paper on exiting the EU

:44:18.:44:20.

failed to meaningfully referred to an industrial strategy and

:44:21.:44:25.

reinforced a lack of coordination between the Government's major

:44:26.:44:29.

challenge and its principal plank of business policy. Given that last

:44:30.:44:34.

week's budget failed to mention Brexit or industrial strategy, does

:44:35.:44:37.

the Secretary of State agree with the recent foreign affairs select

:44:38.:44:41.

committee report that the Government has provided no evidence of

:44:42.:44:45.

industrial contingency planning in the event of a no deal? If not, what

:44:46.:44:52.

is his no deal plan? She will have to do a bit better than that because

:44:53.:44:56.

I've got the budget here and she says it doesn't mention the

:44:57.:44:59.

industrial strategy but I can tell her it is mentioned in the first

:45:00.:45:04.

paragraph of the first page of the budget and throughout it. Given the

:45:05.:45:11.

honourable lady's interest in this, she ought to read the budget! I'm

:45:12.:45:18.

keen that the Northwest should play its part in the Government's

:45:19.:45:25.

industrial strategy to drive up competitiveness in our area. I would

:45:26.:45:28.

like to know how small businesses can play their part in my area. In

:45:29.:45:35.

her area, as in every area in the country, the opportunities for the

:45:36.:45:38.

supply chain to be attractive and locate in this country to supply the

:45:39.:45:43.

major manufacturers and service providers, also to the world is one

:45:44.:45:49.

of the key themes that is emerging from the sector deals that are being

:45:50.:46:02.

negotiated. Number 19, yes. Nearly ?56 billion has been invested in

:46:03.:46:06.

renewable energy since 2012. In the budget last year, my friend the

:46:07.:46:13.

honourable former Chancellor, announced investments for projects

:46:14.:46:17.

including offshore wind. The renewable heat incentive was

:46:18.:46:23.

announced at ?1.15 billion by 2021. We have heard a lot about the

:46:24.:46:27.

importance of small business this morning but there are 44,000 small

:46:28.:46:32.

businesses that have their own smaller sola Micra generators that

:46:33.:46:35.

are currently exempt from business rates but from April one they face

:46:36.:46:40.

an 800% increase in business rates. This is clearly damaging for them

:46:41.:46:44.

and the solar industry. Hopefully, it isn't deliberate so will the

:46:45.:46:46.

Minister meet with the Chancellor to see what can be done to relieve

:46:47.:46:52.

this? I'm grateful for the question. The impact of rates does differ from

:46:53.:46:55.

company to company as regards the solar panels. They have three

:46:56.:47:01.

quarters of the businesses projected to have rates that fall next year

:47:02.:47:07.

and they're is transitional rate relief. We as a department long

:47:08.:47:13.

recognise the problems in some cases she refers to. Number 24, or is it

:47:14.:47:23.

22? 23! The honourable gentleman was close on either side! I will respond

:47:24.:47:32.

shortly to the Competition and Markets Authority report and take

:47:33.:47:35.

steps to increase competition and tell consumers. If he is successful

:47:36.:47:40.

in generating much-needed competition, will we need a

:47:41.:47:47.

regulator at all? The aim of government policy must be to have

:47:48.:47:50.

such vigorous competition in markets that that takes care of itself. I

:47:51.:47:55.

don't think we are in that position so I'm determined to make sure

:47:56.:47:58.

customers are treated fairly. Topical questions. Number one, Mr

:47:59.:48:08.

Speaker. As well as continuing the consultation on our own just real

:48:09.:48:10.

strategy green paper, we are acting ice diagnosis. We set out our plan

:48:11.:48:17.

to transform technical education, increasingly our students are taught

:48:18.:48:22.

by 50%, increasing funding for technical education by 01 ?5 billion

:48:23.:48:25.

a year and new Institute of technology. We announced in the butt

:48:26.:48:32.

of the first ?270 million of projects under the industrial

:48:33.:48:35.

strategy Challenge Fund, including a world leading investment in the

:48:36.:48:39.

development, design and manufacture of batteries to power the next

:48:40.:48:43.

generation of electric vehicles and we announced ?100 million Fellowship

:48:44.:48:46.

fund to attract the world's brightest minds to come and work in

:48:47.:48:53.

the UK. I'm pleased my honourable friend is planning to visit the

:48:54.:48:57.

Astra Joker site in the UK, the largest in the UK, but can he tell

:48:58.:49:03.

us what plans there are to further support life sciences? My honourable

:49:04.:49:09.

friend, a great champion for life sciences, as well as the Treasury

:49:10.:49:14.

economy, knows that the opportunity to negotiate a sector deal for life

:49:15.:49:18.

sciences, which is being led by Sir John Bell, is going to be good for

:49:19.:49:22.

the whole country but will have particular relevance to Cheshire and

:49:23.:49:26.

to Macclesfield and I'm looking forward to visiting his constituency

:49:27.:49:32.

to see these facilities myself. Will the Secretary of State join me in

:49:33.:49:36.

congratulating the greatest evening newspaper in the country, the

:49:37.:49:41.

express and Star, and the brilliant work of Wolverhampton University,

:49:42.:49:46.

who launched a scheme which has now successfully distributed ?4 million

:49:47.:49:50.

of regional growth fund money, supporting 65 businesses, creating

:49:51.:49:56.

or protecting 600 jobs and extraordinarily generating over ?11

:49:57.:49:59.

million in private sector investment to support businesses in places like

:50:00.:50:05.

Dudley, which everybody knows is the real birthplace of the industrial

:50:06.:50:10.

revolution. I'm going to dip my toes into controversy by talking about

:50:11.:50:16.

the industrial revolution so I am not going to talk about the best

:50:17.:50:19.

local newspaper in the country. I gather that the Foreign Secretary

:50:20.:50:22.

began his illustrious career on the express and Star. I'm not sure if

:50:23.:50:27.

this shows their pre-shins or whether they have recovered from

:50:28.:50:32.

that particular judgment, but it is... Local newspapers make a vital

:50:33.:50:37.

contribution to the success of local business and I'm delighted to hear

:50:38.:50:40.

the initiative of the express and Star. My constituency of Rochester

:50:41.:50:50.

and Strood has seen 8800 apprenticeships started across many

:50:51.:50:54.

sectors and very soon I will be hosting my first apprenticeship

:50:55.:50:58.

there, bringing together local students and businesses. With the

:50:59.:51:01.

Minister outlined what steps he is taking to encourage more small

:51:02.:51:05.

businesses to engage and take on more apprentices in places like my

:51:06.:51:08.

constituency of rust just and Strood? The new phase of the get in,

:51:09.:51:17.

go far campaign focused on the benefits of apprenticeships and they

:51:18.:51:22.

support this by contacting small businesses who have previously

:51:23.:51:25.

engaged with the programme and this will be of great benefit to SMEs in

:51:26.:51:32.

their constituency. There are talks of needs to close the skills gap and

:51:33.:51:37.

invest in so, Secretary of State explain to the House on childcare

:51:38.:51:42.

isn't mentioned once? What I would say is that making ourselves

:51:43.:51:47.

attractive as a country to the workforce, making sure we are the

:51:48.:51:50.

best place to operate a business and to work as an important theme of

:51:51.:52:00.

that and I will look forward to the her contribution to the

:52:01.:52:08.

consultation. I thank him for his support for the Midlands engine. In

:52:09.:52:11.

Stafford, we build them and last week I have the honour of opening

:52:12.:52:16.

the technical training centre and large engine plant in Stafford.

:52:17.:52:20.

Would he agree with me that this shows just how important it is for

:52:21.:52:25.

businesses to be proactive in putting together the facilities for

:52:26.:52:33.

apprentices and taking on more? I quite agree with my honourable

:52:34.:52:38.

friend. It does demonstrate the need for all businesses, especially SMEs

:52:39.:52:41.

to take advantage of the 3 million apprenticeship target we have and

:52:42.:52:48.

the huge improvement in quality that is supported by the national

:52:49.:52:53.

apprenticeship service. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Given that the Brexit

:52:54.:52:58.

negotiations are about to start, can the Secretary of State to tell us

:52:59.:53:01.

whether he agrees with his right honourable friend the Prime Minister

:53:02.:53:07.

that no deal is better than a bad deal? Does my right honourable

:53:08.:53:19.

friend... Could he set out how he is intending to shape the regulatory

:53:20.:53:22.

environment as we leave the EU, including things like these

:53:23.:53:26.

allegations, to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of the

:53:27.:53:29.

technical revolution? The UK is the number one place in

:53:30.:53:34.

Europe for investment in technology and the Government's industrial

:53:35.:53:37.

strategy will deliver the prime minister's vision of Britain as a

:53:38.:53:43.

magnet for talent and home to the innovators and pioneers that will

:53:44.:53:54.

shape the future. Scotland's economy, from its thriving

:53:55.:54:00.

universities to its economic food and drink sector, relies on EU

:54:01.:54:04.

freedom of movement. How does the Minister hoped to close the skills

:54:05.:54:07.

gap and pave the way for highly skilled economy if he cannot

:54:08.:54:10.

safeguard the rights of EU nationals living here? The Government,

:54:11.:54:16.

including at the highest level, have made clear on many, many occasions

:54:17.:54:21.

that we value tremendously the important contribution that EU

:54:22.:54:25.

nationals make to the success of our higher education institutions and

:54:26.:54:27.

our scientific establishments across the country, including in Scotland,

:54:28.:54:32.

and we have every intention that continuing years ahead. When I

:54:33.:54:39.

visited the corgi steelworks on Friday, there was a real enthusiasm

:54:40.:54:42.

for a sector deal for the steel industry and a real commitment to

:54:43.:54:47.

ongoing partnership working. Would my right honourable friend the

:54:48.:54:49.

Secretary of State be willing to visit the corgi works to discuss

:54:50.:54:53.

these opportunities? I would be delighted to visit corgi with my

:54:54.:54:57.

honourable friend. He is right that my discussions with the steel

:54:58.:55:02.

industry show a real appetite to set out a long-term sector deal to

:55:03.:55:05.

secure the future of the steel industry. Given the decimation of

:55:06.:55:12.

Scotland's renewable sector and the fact Scotland has very different

:55:13.:55:14.

energy capabilities than the rest of the UK, why does this government

:55:15.:55:18.

continue to think that a one size fits all energy policy is in anyway

:55:19.:55:22.

appropriate for Scotland's very different energy capabilities? I've

:55:23.:55:28.

emphasised in earlier answers the importance of a diverse energy

:55:29.:55:32.

supply, which is at the root of energy security, and there is no

:55:33.:55:34.

question about this Government's commitment to investment in

:55:35.:55:40.

renewables. Driving forward the fourth industrial revolution in new

:55:41.:55:44.

sectors such as robotics and 3D printing, can he ensure that this

:55:45.:55:50.

sector engagement includes new challenges, not just incumbents? It

:55:51.:55:54.

certainly can't up through our industrial strategy, we are backing

:55:55.:55:57.

Britain's innovators with the biggest investment in science and

:55:58.:56:02.

ten and since 1979 and a new industrial strategy Challenge Fund

:56:03.:56:05.

to bring cutting-edge ideas out of the lab and into the wider economy.

:56:06.:56:11.

A recent resolution foundation report stated that one in three UK

:56:12.:56:15.

businesses admit to under investing over the last five years. What

:56:16.:56:18.

measures will the UK government take turn this round?

:56:19.:56:23.

Yes this country does recognise that it has been under investing in

:56:24.:56:29.

research and develop mud, that is why at the Autumn Statement and the

:56:30.:56:32.

budget we will be making the biggest investment in RND in over 40 years.

:56:33.:56:38.

Public investment in RND helps bring in money about ?1 36 for every pound

:56:39.:56:47.

of Marburg that at a big investment. Yellow mac can my right honourable

:56:48.:56:50.

friend outline what measures are included in the middle and strategy

:56:51.:56:54.

to support small businesses enterprises such as those in Cannock

:56:55.:56:59.

Chase. As the honourable lady knows through the growth deal, there is a

:57:00.:57:05.

bought through the local enterprise partnerships for small businesses

:57:06.:57:07.

both start-ups and growing businesses. Following Npower's 15%

:57:08.:57:15.

price hike last month, the government pledged that where

:57:16.:57:19.

markets are not working we are prepared to act. Given that Dion

:57:20.:57:23.

raised their prices by 14%, and SSE by 8% yesterday, and many more

:57:24.:57:28.

companies need to raise their prices until the government actually acts

:57:29.:57:31.

to stop energy customers from getting fleeced. The honourable

:57:32.:57:39.

gentleman is absolutely right, the behaviour is unacceptable, reported

:57:40.:57:42.

by Ofgem that there is no reason to increase prices. We have committed

:57:43.:57:48.

to a Green paper, on the issue. It will be published very shortly and

:57:49.:57:54.

the time is up for these companies. As the chairman for a VP for small

:57:55.:57:58.

businesses I never access to finance is a real challenge for small

:57:59.:58:02.

businesses. What advice could he give to those in my constituency who

:58:03.:58:05.

are looking to access to financing the early years? I can advise my

:58:06.:58:10.

honourable friend that the start-up loans company has already helped

:58:11.:58:16.

44,000 small start-ups, and will be on hand to support start-ups in his

:58:17.:58:23.

constituency. What plans does the Secretary of State had to encourage

:58:24.:58:27.

new innovation support for SMEs in our key foundation industries which

:58:28.:58:31.

make materials like glass, ceramics and steel for cars such as those

:58:32.:58:36.

needed, for those in my constituency. This could help create

:58:37.:58:40.

hundreds of jobs, in the supply chain that are actually made in

:58:41.:58:47.

Britain. Mr Speaker support renovation has received its biggest

:58:48.:58:52.

boost since 1979, the industrial strategy challenge fund has just

:58:53.:58:56.

seen the first allocations of ?270 million that will help boost

:58:57.:58:58.

innovation in key areas across the economy. The diesel power generators

:58:59.:59:10.

for poor and equality, small inoperative, in my constituency

:59:11.:59:12.

whose Mobile hybrid units provide green energy to the construction. My

:59:13.:59:19.

noble friend makes a good point and through him, can I congratulate the

:59:20.:59:22.

business involved that as my honourable friend. With the

:59:23.:59:27.

government 's plans, to improve the energy infrastructure, what positive

:59:28.:59:31.

impact will that have. On small businesses when it comes to

:59:32.:59:42.

electricity cost. The primary effect will be to keep the it down for

:59:43.:59:49.

small businesses. There is an excellent company and a new car is a

:59:50.:59:52.

pride chain that have excellent vacancies that will be on offer in

:59:53.:59:56.

Mike seventh annual Pendle jobs that. What more can we do to support

:59:57.:00:03.

the nuclear supply chain. Mr Speaker one of the things we have done to

:00:04.:00:07.

support the supply chain is to have a continuing commitment and it will

:00:08.:00:15.

benefit his constituents and through a network of training colleges, we

:00:16.:00:18.

will make sure that we grow the nuclear skills. I found the minister

:00:19.:00:23.

was a touch complacent in his earlier answer on smart meters,

:00:24.:00:28.

given this is going to coursed the taxpayer 11 billion by the end of

:00:29.:00:31.

the Parliament, what is he going to do by the fact that it doesn't work

:00:32.:00:40.

when you try to switch supplier. It will save ?47 billion by the end of

:00:41.:00:46.

that decade. When will the business rate review commenced an report, in

:00:47.:00:51.

the light that sticking plasters last week do little for the small

:00:52.:00:58.

businesses in York. The review will report in due course and in the not

:00:59.:01:04.

too distant future. Thank you Mr Speaker, the Digital strategy is a

:01:05.:01:08.

key component in the government 's industrial strategy, can he do

:01:09.:01:11.

better than decent MS and tummy which countries have committed to

:01:12.:01:15.

working Great Grimsby as part of the skills partnership. It is about

:01:16.:01:24.

invitation to businesses to come forward and pose to the government

:01:25.:01:26.

what is required to grow the jobs and skills there. That is the aim of

:01:27.:01:42.

all skills. They have felled to declare much more complimentary

:01:43.:01:47.

today, tenants are protesting outside the office, how long will

:01:48.:01:50.

they keep failing to do their duty and not facing up to the situation?

:01:51.:01:55.

The honourable gentleman knows that the Commissioner for Public

:01:56.:01:58.

avoidance stated that the panel did consider that there were no

:01:59.:02:01.

conflicts of interest in this case that would preclude Mr Newby from

:02:02.:02:08.

doing his job. We must now remove on. Statements, the Prime Minister.

:02:09.:02:15.

CHEERING Thank you Mr Speaker had with

:02:16.:02:18.

permission I would like to make a statement on last weeks European

:02:19.:02:21.

Council. And the next steps in preparing to trigger Article 50, and

:02:22.:02:25.

beginning in the process of leaving the European Union. The summit began

:02:26.:02:30.

by re-electing Donald Tusk as president of the European Council, I

:02:31.:02:33.

welcomed this because we have a close working relationships with

:02:34.:02:36.

Donald Tusk and we recognise the strong contribution he has made in

:02:37.:02:39.

office. In the main business

:02:40.:02:40.

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