:00:07. > :00:15.Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for business,
:00:16. > :00:24.energy and industrial strategy. Number one, please. Mr Speaker, my
:00:25. > :00:28.Department is working closely with the button for exiting the U to
:00:29. > :00:32.recognise the impact is that it will have on businesses and other
:00:33. > :00:36.economic actors across the UK, including in the east like a share.
:00:37. > :00:41.We will work hard to get the best deal for Britain. I thank my
:00:42. > :00:45.honourable friend for that answer. Although not quite as I hatching as
:00:46. > :00:50.the motor industry, the construction products industry, the furniture
:00:51. > :00:58.making industry, the chemical industry representative I crown
:00:59. > :01:00.pates, and others in my visitors see, employ more people. Will my
:01:01. > :01:04.bright and warm friend insure that the strategic industries to East
:01:05. > :01:11.baggage are able to trade on no less favourable terms than any other
:01:12. > :01:16.industry following Brexit? I thank him for that question. The
:01:17. > :01:21.construction products sector, and the construction industry overall,
:01:22. > :01:25.I'm closely involved with. It would be premature to comment on any deal
:01:26. > :01:28.to be struck but he can take it from me that it has got my closest
:01:29. > :01:36.attention, as far as the future of that industry goes. I echo those
:01:37. > :01:44.comments and concerns about leaving the you and what the tariff
:01:45. > :01:48.framework would be. I've visited Simon Jersey, who did the formal
:01:49. > :01:54.wear for our Olympic team. They told me that that Harris are between 910%
:01:55. > :01:59.and textiles. That is a real concern. What reassurance can be
:02:00. > :02:06.given to make sure they cannot beat taxed out of business by the EU?
:02:07. > :02:11.What is striking is that the innovative new investment that has
:02:12. > :02:16.been taking place in this country. One can see investments from BAE
:02:17. > :02:21.Systems, Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover, and many other industrial players.
:02:22. > :02:38.Will my honourable friend explore how 3DO complied tariff claw-back
:02:39. > :02:42.mechanisms... -- WTO. That question probably lies between ourselves and
:02:43. > :02:50.the Department for International trade. We will considerate
:02:51. > :02:55.carefully. Food production and processing is an important part of
:02:56. > :03:01.the Northwest economy. It is not necessarily susceptible to explore
:03:02. > :03:03.beyond the European Union because of different consumer tastes and
:03:04. > :03:07.preferences in the rest of the world. Can the Minister say what
:03:08. > :03:13.negotiations the Government has a ready undertaken or considered to
:03:14. > :03:16.protect this industry? Can he confirm that specialist negotiators
:03:17. > :03:22.who understand the industry are placed to carry out those
:03:23. > :03:27.negotiations? That is a question for the Department for roll of theirs as
:03:28. > :03:34.well is true that Terry Sturridge banding, and British producers can I
:03:35. > :03:39.spend their markets in the days to come. Considering that we have a
:03:40. > :03:44.massive trade deficit with the European Union, surely it would be
:03:45. > :03:48.suicide for the European Union not to agree a trade deal with us. If
:03:49. > :03:57.they did go down that line, did business would have to pay about ?5
:03:58. > :04:04.billion a year and Harris on -- in tariffs under the rules. Given that,
:04:05. > :04:07.could we not cover all tariffs from British businesses exporting to the
:04:08. > :04:15.EU so they do not have to pay anything and still be quids in?
:04:16. > :04:20.Alas, long a period -- long experience has caused me to distrust
:04:21. > :04:26.these things, so I will not comment on that. We are all aware that the
:04:27. > :04:30.cross-border trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland is absolutely
:04:31. > :04:35.vital. If we get Harris put in place, it could be a disaster. Would
:04:36. > :04:41.we make sure that the Northern Ireland voice is heard and embedded
:04:42. > :04:44.in any negotiations? I can assure the gentleman that that question has
:04:45. > :04:48.been taken seriously in my Department. Northern Ireland is an
:04:49. > :04:53.area for which I have responsibility, I have met on
:04:54. > :04:55.several occasions with Northern Irish economy ministers and senior
:04:56. > :05:03.figures in industry there. We will continue to look at that question
:05:04. > :05:06.carefully. This government is truly committed
:05:07. > :05:10.to science and innovation. We protected the size Budget at the
:05:11. > :05:14.Autumn Statement in 2015, the spending review. At the last Autumn
:05:15. > :05:19.Statement, we committed to spending a further ?2 billion a year by the
:05:20. > :05:21.end of this Parliament. The creation of UK research and innovation
:05:22. > :05:27.through the passage of the higher education and research Bill will
:05:28. > :05:30.increase the value and impact of our significant investments in science
:05:31. > :05:36.and innovation in years ahead. I thank him for that. It is certainly
:05:37. > :05:40.a good time for science innovation in the UK. It is also a good year
:05:41. > :05:43.for the space sector, with Major Tim Peake's historic visit to the
:05:44. > :05:50.International Space Station and a new spaceport here in the UK. The
:05:51. > :05:53.next challenge is the XO Mars programme, but Italy with the
:05:54. > :05:57.rumours going around, and the successful delivery of that
:05:58. > :06:05.programme. Could the Minister update the House on any progress made at
:06:06. > :06:10.the European Space Agency recently? I am happy to abide a brief update.
:06:11. > :06:13.As a former chair of the Parliamentary space committee, the
:06:14. > :06:18.honourable member will be delighted to hear we had an excellent outcome
:06:19. > :06:22.at the Council of ministers of the European Space Agency. We committed
:06:23. > :06:30.a further ?1.44 billion, which has secured the future of the Mars
:06:31. > :06:36.programme. Well done. I don't want to ruin the minister's Christmas
:06:37. > :06:39.celebrations, which are imminent, but the fact is if he looks at the
:06:40. > :06:44.deplorable investment in R, the figures that came out this week, he
:06:45. > :06:53.needs to wake up and smell the coffee. -- R They will be deeply
:06:54. > :06:59.damaged by leaving the European Union. Ask the university is what
:07:00. > :07:03.they think. The right honourable member will welcome the Governor's
:07:04. > :07:05.commitment to research and development, which is underscored in
:07:06. > :07:12.the Autumn Statement. A further ?2 billion by the end of this
:07:13. > :07:22.Parliament, perhaps the biggest single X10 check in anyone's memory
:07:23. > :07:26.in this Parliament. Will the Minister continue to support them as
:07:27. > :07:31.new Forth Industrial Revolution businesses come forward to seek to
:07:32. > :07:36.put forward the future of science and technology businesses? I'm happy
:07:37. > :07:40.to provide that assurance. They will be at the heart of our industrial
:07:41. > :07:45.strategy, and the Autumn Statement will provide it with the resources
:07:46. > :07:53.it needs to do the job it does in supporting small businesses in
:07:54. > :08:03.innovation. Tidal lagoon power's report that it could bring money to
:08:04. > :08:06.the UK. Swansea Bay is key to this. I appreciate the Minister will have
:08:07. > :08:17.concerns about costs to customers. Will he commit to weighing up all
:08:18. > :08:19.aspects of it for the report? We are looking very carefully at the report
:08:20. > :08:26.and will be coming forward without response in June course. Chemical
:08:27. > :08:31.and pharmaceutical businesses are important feature of the Northern
:08:32. > :08:35.powerhouse, and emerging enterprises are rooted in university research
:08:36. > :08:37.labs. What support and funding has the UK government committed to
:08:38. > :08:41.encourage continued research collaboration across Europe and
:08:42. > :08:49.indeed the rest of the world to increase our innovative business
:08:50. > :08:51.base, post-Brexit. We support international collaboration in
:08:52. > :08:57.science and research in Europe and indeed around the world, and will
:08:58. > :09:06.continue to do so. The Government talks about promoting science and
:09:07. > :09:12.innovation, but this government has pulled the plug on carbon storage.
:09:13. > :09:17.How much of the money is going towards that carbon storage? We will
:09:18. > :09:21.be consulting carefully with the sector, with the science community,
:09:22. > :09:25.as part of our development of the industrial strategy, in a discussion
:09:26. > :09:35.paper we'll be launching in weeks to come. There is an excellent job in
:09:36. > :09:38.promoting careers in science and engineering, I wonder whether he
:09:39. > :09:45.will come and visit the business that does that. It does a good job.
:09:46. > :09:49.I commend the good work that is going on in the constituency and
:09:50. > :10:04.look forward to an opportunity to visit as and when the opportunity
:10:05. > :10:07.arises. Question three, Mr Speaker. With your permission, I will answer
:10:08. > :10:10.this question together with question six. Our strategy will build an
:10:11. > :10:15.economy that works for everyone. To do that, we will drive productivity
:10:16. > :10:18.and growth in all parts of the country. We have set out steps to
:10:19. > :10:22.deliver this, including significant funding announcements for science,
:10:23. > :10:27.research and development and infrastructure in the Autumn
:10:28. > :10:30.Statement. I thank you for that answer and note the part where he
:10:31. > :10:36.said that the industrial strategy should work for everybody. You will
:10:37. > :10:39.be an additional 500,000 new jobs by 2020, but even if all of these jobs
:10:40. > :10:45.were taken up by disabled people, the disability employment gap would
:10:46. > :10:50.not be half. The Secretary of State explain how the industrial strategy
:10:51. > :10:53.will support the commitment to help the point gap by 2020?
:10:54. > :10:59.The honourable gentleman makes a good point. It's important that we
:11:00. > :11:04.close that gap. The government has made a very firm commitment to this
:11:05. > :11:07.and he will see, when we make our proposals and I hope you will
:11:08. > :11:11.contribute to it, that part of our purpose is to make sure that people
:11:12. > :11:15.who may have been excluded from the labour market are able to have the
:11:16. > :11:24.skills to be able to prosper in the future. Ayrshire is a beautiful
:11:25. > :11:30.coastal county but with areas of both rural and urban deprivation.
:11:31. > :11:34.And yet it has you huge potential in aerospace and pharmaceutical
:11:35. > :11:38.industries. The Scottish Government are supportive of a growth deal to
:11:39. > :11:43.invest in infrastructure. Will the Minister meet with me to hear the
:11:44. > :11:46.proposal to unlock airship's industrial potential? I would be
:11:47. > :11:51.delighted to meet with the honourable member. I'm very proud of
:11:52. > :11:57.the deals that we have negotiated, including in Glasgow, not far away
:11:58. > :12:02.in the West of Scotland. Their shed does have a huge amount to offer.
:12:03. > :12:05.Prestwick is a very important asset. I welcome the initiative of the
:12:06. > :12:10.councils in Ayrshire and I would be delighted to meet the honourable
:12:11. > :12:13.member. Can I urge my right honourable friend to consider
:12:14. > :12:20.creating free ports across an agent -- nation? These zones can
:12:21. > :12:27.simultaneously boost manufacturing, boost regional growth and grow
:12:28. > :12:33.exports. I am grateful for my honourable friend's industry in
:12:34. > :12:39.this. He has published an excellent report, for the Centre policy
:12:40. > :12:49.studies. It's very good reading and I am considering it with my
:12:50. > :12:52.colleagues. As my right honourable friend develops is industrial
:12:53. > :12:59.strategy, may I give him some friendly advice to drop the word
:13:00. > :13:04.industrial and drop the word strategy? And replace them with the
:13:05. > :13:10.words competition innovation and skills policies. What I would say to
:13:11. > :13:16.my honourable friend, and I'm grateful for his question, he will
:13:17. > :13:22.see that one of the differences between the approach that we will
:13:23. > :13:27.take to industrial strategy and policy and industry for this purpose
:13:28. > :13:31.means the services sector as well as manufacturing. This is very
:13:32. > :13:36.important. One of the differences from the past as this will not be
:13:37. > :13:40.about simply addressing the needs of incumbents. We want to make Britain
:13:41. > :13:43.the best place, the most competitive, the most contestable
:13:44. > :13:46.place for business to locate. I would be grateful if he would
:13:47. > :13:53.contribute to it but I think you'll find it's going to be music to his
:13:54. > :13:58.ears. Surely one of the Secretary of State's priorities should be the
:13:59. > :14:04.steel industry. So, is he aware that Noel Village foundry in Doncaster is
:14:05. > :14:08.being badly affected by reductions in the supply chain. When we ask his
:14:09. > :14:13.department to give urgent advice to the company to see if anything can
:14:14. > :14:18.be done to prevent it going into administration, even at this late
:14:19. > :14:22.stage? I would be very happy to meet with the right honourable member
:14:23. > :14:26.about this but I can give her some news that I think she will welcome
:14:27. > :14:31.on steel. I can announce today that we are, the government is going to
:14:32. > :14:37.publish the demands that it will have through public spectre bodies
:14:38. > :14:43.for steel to 2020. We're updating the procurement guidelines for steel
:14:44. > :14:48.to include the health service and local authorities, and to drop the
:14:49. > :14:52.previous threshold of ?10 million for which these guidelines apply.
:14:53. > :15:00.That will be good for the steel industry generally and for all firms
:15:01. > :15:03.within it. Small-scale manufacturing in firms often with fewer than half
:15:04. > :15:08.a dozen people are keyed to the local economy in Kettering and are
:15:09. > :15:19.responsible for a lot of the employment opportunities. I will
:15:20. > :15:25.indeed. Two things that I would commend it to him. In the extra
:15:26. > :15:28.funding for research and innovation that my honourable friend, the
:15:29. > :15:32.science minister, has described, we want to make sure that small
:15:33. > :15:37.manufacturers are able to access that. The second thing we want to
:15:38. > :15:43.address is the ability for small and growing firms to be able to obtain
:15:44. > :15:47.the finance to allow them to grow to the next stage. It's very important
:15:48. > :15:54.in having the vigorous competitive market that the honourable member
:15:55. > :15:59.suggested. Scotland's universities play a key role in boosting the
:16:00. > :16:03.economy across all sectors of our economy. With that in mind, will the
:16:04. > :16:07.Secretary of State outline what the role of universities would be in the
:16:08. > :16:10.forthcoming strategy? Will the recently announced new money
:16:11. > :16:14.available for our MDB available to Scottish universities? Universities
:16:15. > :16:19.are very important. We've had a number of constructive sessions with
:16:20. > :16:24.university leaders and researchers. Is absolutely right that science
:16:25. > :16:28.doesn't recognise boundaries. Universities and researchers in
:16:29. > :16:36.Scotland have a fantastic record of success. In fact, I think is the
:16:37. > :16:39.case that for 8.5% of the UK graduation, Scotland attracts 10% of
:16:40. > :16:48.funding which shows it can prosper and thrive with the new changes
:16:49. > :16:54.we're making funding. Universities Scotland is to 10% free Church
:16:55. > :16:58.funding comes from the EU and 16% to 20% of staff come from EU nations.
:16:59. > :17:04.With that in mind, will the Secretary of State ensure that as we
:17:05. > :17:08.exited EU, Scotland's universities are not hit punitively by withdrawal
:17:09. > :17:13.of EU funding? It follows from what I just said that science doesn't
:17:14. > :17:17.respect boundaries and the science community is very global and
:17:18. > :17:22.international. Of course, as you would expect, as part of the
:17:23. > :17:30.negotiations, we will affect the importance of that the whole of the
:17:31. > :17:35.United Kingdom. The Secretary of State talks of industrial strategy
:17:36. > :17:45.but so far has only shared land generalities. Despite the high
:17:46. > :17:48.profile examples cited, Institute of chartered accountants predicts
:17:49. > :17:53.business investment will fall in 2017. There are great opportunities
:17:54. > :17:58.for British business Post Brexit but they need the leadership and this
:17:59. > :18:04.climate of uncertainty is toxic to investment. So will the Secretary of
:18:05. > :18:09.State stop playing Scrooge with his assurances and give British business
:18:10. > :18:14.the Christmas present it once? I industrial strategy. A bit of
:18:15. > :18:19.optimism on the part of the honourable lady would not go amiss,
:18:20. > :18:24.especially in this Christmas season. In fact, there is huge enthusiasm
:18:25. > :18:30.and engagement with us across business, right across the country,
:18:31. > :18:36.to develop the long-term policies. Because you have been distracted by
:18:37. > :18:39.some of the events in her party of recent months let me summarise some
:18:40. > :18:45.of the things we've done since July. We've given the go-ahead for some
:18:46. > :18:49.important strategic infrastructure projects. Hinkley Point, the third
:18:50. > :18:57.runway at Heathrow, the next phase of HS two. We've secured investment
:18:58. > :19:01.in the sand. That's something we announced a month ago. We've
:19:02. > :19:03.ratified the Paris agreement. Secured the extra investment my
:19:04. > :19:07.honourable friend talked about. We've done more in five months and
:19:08. > :19:18.putting our industrial future onto the right footing than the previous
:19:19. > :19:26.government did in 13 years. If I may turn from Mali's ghost... The number
:19:27. > :19:31.of businesses in the UK continues to grow. The start of 2016, there were
:19:32. > :19:38.a record 5.5 million private-sector businesses. This is an increase and
:19:39. > :19:43.2015, one million more than in 2010. I thank my honourable friend for
:19:44. > :19:48.that answer. Small businesses in my constituency held a Christmas market
:19:49. > :19:52.this weekend to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the opticians who are
:19:53. > :19:57.doing a brilliant job locally. What more can I honourable friend do to
:19:58. > :20:03.ensure that small businesses and medium-size businesses prosper and
:20:04. > :20:06.grow in this country? My friend is absolutely right to recognise the
:20:07. > :20:08.central importance of small and medium-size businesses to our
:20:09. > :20:12.economy and they are businesses which this government has been
:20:13. > :20:23.supporting them through the extension of rate relief. To the new
:20:24. > :20:26.productivity Council and the new patient capital review. All of those
:20:27. > :20:30.things will go towards supporting that vital sector of our economy. In
:20:31. > :20:34.terms of the number of businesses, would he ensure there is a level
:20:35. > :20:39.playing field, so the level of subsidy for tariffs applied to the
:20:40. > :20:42.motor industry is applied equally across all exporters and when he
:20:43. > :20:47.published the total amount of subsidy before the 31st of March?
:20:48. > :20:51.There has been no special deal for Nissan or any other part of the
:20:52. > :20:56.motor industry. Whatever arrangements are made fully
:20:57. > :21:02.transparent to support different sectors of the UK economy. The
:21:03. > :21:09.general picture is the preceding vigorously and with some care
:21:10. > :21:12.towards an attractive destination. Superfast broadband is absolutely
:21:13. > :21:17.essential to many small businesses and does he agree with me that the
:21:18. > :21:21.fact many of my villages in South East Cambridgeshire still do not
:21:22. > :21:25.have collectivity and there is delay in connectivity is very
:21:26. > :21:27.disappointing? Will he join with me in encouraging and supporting
:21:28. > :21:32.further connectivity across the region? The honourable lady is
:21:33. > :21:36.absolutely right and she will know I've been a tireless campaigner for
:21:37. > :21:42.superfast broadband myself, especially in relation to BT and
:21:43. > :21:49.Openreach. So I agree with her. The Autumn Statement announced a ?1
:21:50. > :21:52.billion package for fibre and five G connectivity, prioritising business
:21:53. > :21:56.connections across the UK. That follows a superfast broadband
:21:57. > :22:00.programme which is due to deliver 91% coverage in South East
:22:01. > :22:09.Cambridgeshire by mid-2017 and the new obligation. 50,000 businesses
:22:10. > :22:18.die unnecessarily every year because of late payment. ?31 billion is owed
:22:19. > :22:22.and small businesses alone spend ?10 billion chasing outstanding
:22:23. > :22:29.invoices. Reports have been delayed with just 378 of the largest 55,000
:22:30. > :22:32.businesses having signed up to the prompt payment code. So when is this
:22:33. > :22:37.Conservative government going to start doing something to help with
:22:38. > :22:41.the scourge of late payment? But some teeth into it so small
:22:42. > :22:46.businesses can act! I think the honourable gentleman is absolutely
:22:47. > :22:50.right to point the finger squarely at issues of late payment. It's a
:22:51. > :22:54.serious matter, a matter for us to continue to press forward on. I
:22:55. > :23:06.certainly would say though that when I see this in need context of the...
:23:07. > :23:12.Thank you, Mr Speaker. The proportion of women on FTSE 100
:23:13. > :23:19.boards have increased from 20% to 27%. Since 2011, the number of women
:23:20. > :23:24.on FTSE 350 boards has more than doubled to 23.5%. We support the
:23:25. > :23:31.business led target of 32% on FTSE 350 boards by 2020. I welcome the
:23:32. > :23:34.minister's response but to get more women onto boards we need to get
:23:35. > :23:40.more women into business in the first place. I spoke at the women's
:23:41. > :23:43.conference in Parkfield, a Sussex -based organisation whose mission is
:23:44. > :23:47.to get more women into business. What work is the government doing
:23:48. > :23:51.with organisations such as this to help get women into enterprise, so
:23:52. > :23:55.they get the skills they need to rise to the top? I congratulate my
:23:56. > :24:01.honourable friend on all the work she does two men tall women. Over
:24:02. > :24:04.16,500 start-up loans have been issued to female entrepreneurs and
:24:05. > :24:09.almost half the users of the business support helpline are women.
:24:10. > :24:14.The Hampton Alexander review is looking beyond boards now to
:24:15. > :24:20.building female pipelines among senior managements. We also support
:24:21. > :24:24.the women's business Council. Can the Minister indicate whether there
:24:25. > :24:28.is a regional pattern in low numbers of women on boards and outline what
:24:29. > :24:33.discussions have taken place with ministerial colleagues in devolved
:24:34. > :24:39.administrations of doubt increasing the number of women on boards? I
:24:40. > :24:44.welcome the honourable lady's commitment to increasing the number
:24:45. > :24:48.of women on boards in Scotland. I will have discussions with my right
:24:49. > :24:51.honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to ensure this
:24:52. > :24:53.national target applies equally to Scotland as it does elsewhere in the
:24:54. > :25:10.United Kingdom. I do apologise to the honourable
:25:11. > :25:18.lady. I did mean Northern Ireland, of course, in my earlier response.
:25:19. > :25:21.The government website and business support helpline provides
:25:22. > :25:25.information on starting and running a business, growth hubs also provide
:25:26. > :25:27.access to local and national support. There are 4.8 million
:25:28. > :25:38.people who are now self-employed. In South East Cornwall we have some
:25:39. > :25:42.fantastic self-employed people who make a host of excellent food
:25:43. > :25:47.products. Does my right honourable friends agree with me that there
:25:48. > :25:52.will be opportunities for them to grow these businesses and be
:25:53. > :25:57.released from excessive red tape once we leave the European Union?
:25:58. > :26:00.And what advice did she have for them?
:26:01. > :26:05.The Government committed in its manifesto to reduce the burden of
:26:06. > :26:08.regulation on business by ?10 million during this Parliament. The
:26:09. > :26:12.Government will also carefully consider the implications of leaving
:26:13. > :26:16.the European Union for the business impact targets and the opportunities
:26:17. > :26:20.to further reduce burdens on businesses like the excellent
:26:21. > :26:27.self-employed food producers in South East Cornwall.
:26:28. > :26:32.The issue of false self-employment is an issue in retail, care and
:26:33. > :26:36.construction. The gang masters licensing agency is expected to
:26:37. > :26:40.regulate those industries. Over half a million new businesses with only
:26:41. > :26:43.79 members of staff across the entire UK. The director of labour
:26:44. > :26:49.market and force that has not been appointed despite these new powers,
:26:50. > :26:51.will Government ensure it acts speedily?
:26:52. > :26:57.I can ensure the honourable lady that we are acting swiftly to
:26:58. > :27:00.appoint the office of labour market and force, I agree that it is
:27:01. > :27:06.crucial. Question number eight. The Prime
:27:07. > :27:10.Minister has made it clear that the Government will not, as a
:27:11. > :27:15.consequence of withdrawal, allow any erosion of rights in the workplace.
:27:16. > :27:19.Whether those derived from the EU or UK law. She has further made it
:27:20. > :27:25.clear that Government are determined to deliver an economy that works for
:27:26. > :27:29.everyone and fundamental to that is the preservation of existing
:27:30. > :27:34.workers' rights. Isn't the reality that our EU
:27:35. > :27:42.derived and Clement writes are not held by legislation but Aaron place
:27:43. > :27:46.because of enforcement by the enforcement of the relevant European
:27:47. > :27:53.courts? Given the progress in the British Bill of Rights has been
:27:54. > :27:55.patchy at best, how will we ensure them?
:27:56. > :27:59.Such rights will be upheld by British courts after we leave the
:28:00. > :28:03.European Union. The UK enjoys record on climate at the same time as
:28:04. > :28:08.having employment rights that exceed what is required by EU law in the
:28:09. > :28:12.important areas of maternity leave, parental leave and statutory annual
:28:13. > :28:20.leave. Mr Speaker, given the sorry history
:28:21. > :28:26.of Brexit broken promises, does the Minister understand the widespread
:28:27. > :28:35.cynicism being expressed that rates will be protected post Brexit,
:28:36. > :28:41.including on a continuing basis? -- that's rights will be protected. Did
:28:42. > :28:46.she agree with the rep said broken promise breaker par excellence the
:28:47. > :28:52.Foreign Secretary that these rights are backbreaking? I think he is
:28:53. > :28:57.prejudging the situation to say that we have added chance to break Brexit
:28:58. > :29:00.promises before we have started negotiations. The Prime Minister
:29:01. > :29:04.could not have been clearer and has been supported at this dispatch box
:29:05. > :29:08.by the Secretary of State for exiting the European Union that
:29:09. > :29:13.workers' rights will be protected and even enhanced as a possibility
:29:14. > :29:17.as well. The honourable gentleman bears a striking resemblance to an
:29:18. > :29:24.exploding volcano. Let's hear the fellow. Really, the
:29:25. > :29:31.Shadow Minister talked absolute rubbish just then. It is not
:29:32. > :29:34.unusual. Would the Minister agree with me that the democratic
:29:35. > :29:38.principle of the Government of the day deciding employment rights,
:29:39. > :29:45.isn't that what we want, employment rights decided in this House, not
:29:46. > :29:49.Europe? This house will decide on employment
:29:50. > :29:51.rights but it is important to remind my honourable friend that during the
:29:52. > :29:56.lifetime of this Government the Prime Minister could not have been
:29:57. > :29:59.clearer, workers' rights will be protected after Britain leads the
:30:00. > :30:05.European Union. Number nine.
:30:06. > :30:10.Thank you, Mr Speaker. We have held a wide range of discussions with
:30:11. > :30:13.businesses, representatives, investors, workers and local leaders
:30:14. > :30:19.in all four home nations and expect that to continue in the coming
:30:20. > :30:22.months to secure UK interests in any except negotiations.
:30:23. > :30:27.There is real concern among business about a potential cliff edge in
:30:28. > :30:33.March 2019 if we leave the EU and fall back on WTO rules and
:30:34. > :30:37.terrorists. Does he agree with what the Chancellor said yesterday to the
:30:38. > :30:40.Treasury Select Committee that there is, I quote, and emerging view among
:30:41. > :30:44.businesses that having a longer period to manage the adjustment
:30:45. > :30:48.period where we are now full members of the EU and where we get to in the
:30:49. > :30:51.future as the result of negotiations would generally be helpful and help
:30:52. > :30:56.to smooth the transition and reduce disruption?
:30:57. > :30:59.That is attempting invitation to our a running commentary on exit
:31:00. > :31:05.arrangements, as we will not do that the Government I will not do now.
:31:06. > :31:10.Last week's news out of Port Talbot is hugely welcome in steel towns
:31:11. > :31:14.such as Corby and came about because the constructive working we have
:31:15. > :31:19.seen not just across this House but involving ministers, the unions, the
:31:20. > :31:23.workforce in the industry. As we move towards final agreement being
:31:24. > :31:27.reached, going forwards, what role does my honourable friend CB
:31:28. > :31:32.industry playing in the industrial strategy, what discussions has he
:31:33. > :31:39.had about that in any EU context? This is more for my colleague the
:31:40. > :31:47.right honourable member for... Uxbridge. Let me just, if I may...
:31:48. > :31:55.Excuse me. I stand corrected, Ruislip. We will leave the Foreign
:31:56. > :31:58.Secretary out of this. Let me just say that he and the Secretary of
:31:59. > :32:03.State and other colleagues have had a series of meetings with steel
:32:04. > :32:08.companies across the production and supply chain and have been able to
:32:09. > :32:12.give them the support and structure they needed in the context we
:32:13. > :32:20.described. Question ten. My honourable friend,
:32:21. > :32:25.the retail energy market works well for those who are able and have the
:32:26. > :32:30.time to switch, with customers able to make savings of up to ?300 by
:32:31. > :32:35.moving onto the cheapest tariffs. We want a market that works for all
:32:36. > :32:38.consumers, not just those that switch supplier. That is why we have
:32:39. > :32:42.been clear that we want energy companies to come forward with
:32:43. > :32:47.proposals on how they will treat their loyal customers fairly.
:32:48. > :32:51.The Competition and Markets Authority found that two thirds of
:32:52. > :32:54.households are on expensive standard variable tariffs, does the Minister
:32:55. > :32:58.agree that suppliers should do more to make sure loyal customers are
:32:59. > :33:01.better body tariffs? I agree with my honourable friend
:33:02. > :33:06.that it is not right that customers are penalised for their loyalty. We
:33:07. > :33:08.want to see energy companies treating all by customers fairly,
:33:09. > :33:13.not just those switching between suppliers, which is why we have
:33:14. > :33:17.challenged them to come forward with proposals to ensure that all
:33:18. > :33:20.customers get a deal. What I have been saying for about
:33:21. > :33:24.five years that they have been overcharging customers on the
:33:25. > :33:28.standard variable tariffs, that has been confirmed by the Competition
:33:29. > :33:31.and Markets Authority and Ofgem and is being confirmed by the
:33:32. > :33:35.Government. The only way we will make a shift in these companies in
:33:36. > :33:39.the way they have operated is if we extend to those people with standard
:33:40. > :33:43.variable tariffs the protection offered to those on prepayment
:33:44. > :33:47.meters. Would the Minister have a meeting with me to discuss what more
:33:48. > :33:52.we can do to make sure that we give these big six energy is a kick up
:33:53. > :33:56.the backside? We will certainly... I am certainly
:33:57. > :34:01.happy to meet the honourable member, the honourable lady has extensive
:34:02. > :34:05.experience in this area, we are considering CMA remedies at the
:34:06. > :34:09.moment. A large number of rural properties
:34:10. > :34:14.are heated by oil fired central heating. Can the Minister confirm
:34:15. > :34:20.that home efficiency measures are recycled way of cutting bills for
:34:21. > :34:24.those rural properties? I agree, efficiency measures are
:34:25. > :34:30.fundamental to reducing the energy bill is not just for people in rural
:34:31. > :34:35.areas but the population as a whole. This week a senior executive in
:34:36. > :34:40.Ofgem warns that as a result of her high-rise on renewable energy,
:34:41. > :34:47.consumers may face the possibility of having to pay a premium to ensure
:34:48. > :34:50.that they have a reliable source of electricity to their homes without
:34:51. > :34:55.having lights turned off. What discussions has the Minister had
:34:56. > :35:02.with Ofgem on this issue, is the Government looking up the policy of
:35:03. > :35:05.relying on costly... Renewable energy rather than cheaper fossil
:35:06. > :35:09.fuels? We have an ongoing dialogue with
:35:10. > :35:16.Ofgem on a number of issues, apropos the costs of supporting investment
:35:17. > :35:20.in low carbon technologies, this is expected to increase, but so are
:35:21. > :35:25.savings from energy efficiency policies so that by 2020, household
:35:26. > :35:30.energy bills are estimated to still be lower on average than they would
:35:31. > :35:37.have been in the absence of those green policies.
:35:38. > :35:40.11. We are working to make the UK even more competitive in advanced
:35:41. > :35:43.Manufacturing by cutting corporate tax, cutting red tape and increasing
:35:44. > :35:50.support for the research innovation that will be crucial to success. Not
:35:51. > :35:53.least through the ?300 million investment in the high-value
:35:54. > :35:57.manufacturing category. Given the potential increase in
:35:58. > :36:01.tariffs due to Brexit, how does the Minister plan to ensure that this
:36:02. > :36:07.high-value form of manufacturing does not interior?
:36:08. > :36:10.This added manufacturing is extremely important to our future,
:36:11. > :36:16.both presenting many opportunities but also some risks to manage, it is
:36:17. > :36:19.going to be a very poor to part of the industrial strategy. In
:36:20. > :36:24.relations to the broader concerns about Arabs, the Government is
:36:25. > :36:26.listening very carefully, as I witnessed yesterday, to
:36:27. > :36:32.manufacturers and other sectors about priorities and concerns.
:36:33. > :36:37.Will the Minister or one of his colleagues meet with me and
:36:38. > :36:42.representatives from M and W group and BDE from my constituency who are
:36:43. > :36:47.part of eight consort Thiem bidding for vitrification project in the
:36:48. > :36:57.Chinese nuclear sector? ... Part of a consortium building... Bidding
:36:58. > :37:01.for. It would help if the Minister would meet with them and help them
:37:02. > :37:07.to win this contract. We are committed to supporting
:37:08. > :37:10.British business, the answer is yes. The low carbon energy sector would
:37:11. > :37:15.drive the manufacturing industry in this country. And be very helpful in
:37:16. > :37:20.developing an international strategy, which I fully support. One
:37:21. > :37:25.practical example is small nuclear reactors. Can the Minister tell
:37:26. > :37:30.House when we can get an announcement on the funding and help
:37:31. > :37:33.for this important sector? We are reviewing priorities in
:37:34. > :37:36.relation to the energy innovation portfolio that sits inside the
:37:37. > :37:41.department and the honourable gentleman will have noticed the
:37:42. > :37:43.comments made by the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement. We are
:37:44. > :37:49.reviewing priorities and will announce them shortly.
:37:50. > :37:55.Number 12. On the electricity side, the
:37:56. > :37:59.National Grid electricity capacity report was published in July for
:38:00. > :38:03.this year and involves a forward look on energy security through
:38:04. > :38:08.competitive capacity auctions. We have already secured capacity from
:38:09. > :38:15.2018/19 to 2021, in January we will try to secure capacity for another
:38:16. > :38:21.year. I doubt there's an flexible gas
:38:22. > :38:26.supply can meet demand even and the severe weather conditions. -- even
:38:27. > :38:31.under severe weather conditions. The importance of gas storage in
:38:32. > :38:35.energy generation and avoiding damaging price hikes has been
:38:36. > :38:40.highlighted by the partial closure of the wrath storage facility. What
:38:41. > :38:43.is the Government doing to tackle the question of increasing gas
:38:44. > :38:47.storage for the future? It is an important question. The gas
:38:48. > :38:56.supply arrangements are quite diverse. We have more than 30%
:38:57. > :38:59.capacity even on a cold winter's day. There has been higher than
:39:00. > :39:02.expected demand for power and restrictions to supply input
:39:03. > :39:08.structure. It is something we keep under constant review.
:39:09. > :39:11.The success of carbon capture and storage is important to energy
:39:12. > :39:14.security, which is why it is a disappointing that the Chancellor
:39:15. > :39:18.slashed ?1 billion from the ring fenced budget in the Autumn
:39:19. > :39:21.Statement. What is the Government doing to promote carbon capture and
:39:22. > :39:24.storage? I refer him to my honourable friend
:39:25. > :39:32.the member for Ruislip's earlier remarks on this topic.
:39:33. > :39:37.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Will the Minister join me in congratulating
:39:38. > :39:48.Are Blocked In The Jean on the completion of its solar panel
:39:49. > :39:55.installation at a school in Street? I am very glad he has brought that
:39:56. > :39:59.to the attention of the Haas. After the latest capacity auction
:40:00. > :40:01.the overall scores for the procurement of new combined cycle
:40:02. > :40:08.gas generation plants stand that one. One small buildable plant over
:40:09. > :40:15.three auctions, at a total cost so far of ?3 billion, and 12p a year on
:40:16. > :40:19.customer bills. Does the Secretary of State of any other good ideas up
:40:20. > :40:24.his sleeve to secure the procurement and building of new capacity up to
:40:25. > :40:28.2020? As the honourable gentleman will
:40:29. > :40:35.know, the capacity market auction was an enormous success, it secured
:40:36. > :40:42.a widespread diversity of supply at low cost, at higher amounts than
:40:43. > :40:46.ever before. It is also including some innovative new technologies.
:40:47. > :40:53.Actually I think the department is to be celebrated for managing it.
:40:54. > :40:58.Number 13. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The next
:40:59. > :41:02.meeting of the council will take place in the New Year, I will need
:41:03. > :41:07.the steel industry chief executives next month and the trade union steel
:41:08. > :41:10.committee next month -- I will meet. I thank him for his answer, I am
:41:11. > :41:19.sure he will join me in congratulating all of those involved
:41:20. > :41:23.in the Save Our Steel campaign, especially the unions, for the
:41:24. > :41:26.announcement at Port Talbot. Trade union is out matters best, I am sure
:41:27. > :41:30.he will agree. Thousands of trade union members and their families can
:41:31. > :41:34.look forward to a more certain 2017, but that pensions are a dead. What
:41:35. > :41:35.will he do to make sure that pensions are protected, as well as
:41:36. > :41:41.their jobs? I join the honourable gentleman in
:41:42. > :41:46.welcoming and congratulating both the workforce and trade unions, and
:41:47. > :41:53.the employers, who had a very constructive set of discussions. It
:41:54. > :41:56.obviously needs to go to the membership and consultation of the
:41:57. > :42:02.membership needs to take place. But it's a positive step forward and he
:42:03. > :42:05.is right that it will provide some greater comfort this winter to
:42:06. > :42:09.employees. On the point of pensions, he will know and it's right and
:42:10. > :42:14.proper, that the independent pensions regulator rather than the
:42:15. > :42:17.government, must approve and must be content with arrangements and it
:42:18. > :42:22.would be wrong for the government to intervene in that. One of the best
:42:23. > :42:25.ways to support the British steel industry is for the government to
:42:26. > :42:32.invest in infrastructure. Would my right honourable friend agree and
:42:33. > :42:35.join me in praising the work of Sellafield steel based on my
:42:36. > :42:42.constituency, who were building the world's first Squash tennis style
:42:43. > :42:53.bridge is part of the looping ancestor? I will congratulate the
:42:54. > :42:56.company. It is very successful, not only the product which won the
:42:57. > :43:01.global award but they are responsible for construction at the
:43:02. > :43:03.Olympic Stadium, Birmingham new Street station, a lot of the
:43:04. > :43:11.buildings that we admire and having our minds are constructed with
:43:12. > :43:15.British Steel by British companies. Thank you. Whilst we've recently had
:43:16. > :43:19.somebody good news for the steel industry which gives and their
:43:20. > :43:25.families the stability they need for now, the fact that the steel was not
:43:26. > :43:29.mentioned in the Autumn Statement is cause for concern and furthermore,
:43:30. > :43:35.the fact that this UK Government leads a group of countries blocking
:43:36. > :43:39.the EU reform of anti-dumping trade defence instruments is a serious is
:43:40. > :43:43.discrete issue. Will the minister commit to including the steel
:43:44. > :43:46.industry in the future industrial strategy and detail the steps the
:43:47. > :43:52.government will take to support this vital foundation industry? Of
:43:53. > :43:56.course, steel is incredibly important and it's important that it
:43:57. > :43:59.should have a bright future. We all want to see that. One of the things
:44:00. > :44:03.that I've been doing with my honourable friend, working very
:44:04. > :44:07.closely with the steel industry on both the employer 's side and the
:44:08. > :44:13.trade union side, is to find and bring together a strategic review
:44:14. > :44:18.that the whole industry is coming together to work on. That is
:44:19. > :44:22.expressly designed to inform our industrial strategy, so we can look
:44:23. > :44:29.forward with confidence to a very successful steel industry in the
:44:30. > :44:33.future. With your permission, Mr Speaker, I answer this with question
:44:34. > :44:39.21. Local enterprise partnerships do extremely important work bringing
:44:40. > :44:43.together business inside, local authorities and universities to
:44:44. > :44:48.shape and support local growth, not least through growth deals which are
:44:49. > :44:52.finding it into projects. The grouping is with question number 18.
:44:53. > :45:00.Ministers have to keep their eye on the order paper. The numbers change
:45:01. > :45:03.over a period which will be obvious. There are 30,000 more businesses
:45:04. > :45:07.with high speed broadband in the Black Country as a result of the
:45:08. > :45:10.leadership of the Black Country local enterprise partnership. With
:45:11. > :45:14.the Minister agree with me that the black Country lap has been an
:45:15. > :45:19.excellent example bringing together the private and public sector to
:45:20. > :45:25.drive growth, improve skills and build the infrastructure that the
:45:26. > :45:27.Black Country economy needs. I thank my honourable friend for bringing
:45:28. > :45:37.that to the attention of the house. It's a fantastic opportunity. I hear
:45:38. > :45:41.great things about the chairmanship. I would like to pass on the
:45:42. > :45:52.congratulations of the government. At a time when investors had been
:45:53. > :45:57.having a hard time in the media,... What wider world does he envisage
:45:58. > :46:01.for these organisations and will he consider expanding the growing
:46:02. > :46:09.business fund? Can I thank my honourable friend for standing up
:46:10. > :46:12.for them. Can I assure him that these are part of the process of
:46:13. > :46:16.feeding into the industrial strategy. We are clear that that
:46:17. > :46:20.strategy needs to reflect deep understanding of the different
:46:21. > :46:25.challenges and opportunities each area faces and that's why the
:46:26. > :46:33.Secretary of State has allocated a ministerial... I will be brief. Some
:46:34. > :46:37.newspapers have exposed shocking examples of what I can only describe
:46:38. > :46:42.as crony capitalism when it comes to some of our laps. The former elected
:46:43. > :46:47.mayor of Bristol received more than ?50,000 for his own brewing firms
:46:48. > :46:50.while on the board which kept no minutes. Perhaps the Minister is
:46:51. > :46:56.impressed to find right wing politicians who can organise a booze
:46:57. > :47:00.up in a brewery. Given they are putting nearly ?2 billion into the
:47:01. > :47:04.Autumn Statement and going to laps, can he tell us what they are doing
:47:05. > :47:11.to enforce basic standards of accountability? I promise not to buy
:47:12. > :47:16.my dictionary where the honourable gentleman got his. Never trust
:47:17. > :47:22.Labour when they say they are going to be brief. He raises an extremely
:47:23. > :47:26.important point. This is taxpayers money. Any allegations about that
:47:27. > :47:30.money being spent in an inappropriate way, particularly when
:47:31. > :47:34.there are allegations around conflict of interest is something we
:47:35. > :47:40.take extremely seriously. In fact, looking at the allegations, we are
:47:41. > :47:46.reassured by the prompt and response -- robust response to these
:47:47. > :47:53.allegations. We continued to press and make the point strongly that we
:47:54. > :48:00.expect full compliance. Number one, Mr Speaker. Over the last month,
:48:01. > :48:01.we've made substantial progress across the department's
:48:02. > :48:04.responsibilities. Our recent review will make sure Britain is not only
:48:05. > :48:09.an excellent place to do business but also web as this is done best.
:48:10. > :48:14.We continue to tackle climate change, ratifying the Paris
:48:15. > :48:18.agreement, my honourable friend played an important part in the
:48:19. > :48:22.climate discussions in Marrakesh. I had a great pleasure of opening the
:48:23. > :48:29.Siemens wind turbine factory in Hull, creating 1000 new jobs. By
:48:30. > :48:32.providing an additional 2 billion a year by 2020 and living British
:48:33. > :48:35.homes and businesses certainty that their electricity demands will be
:48:36. > :48:41.met for the next five years, we are investing in our country's economic
:48:42. > :48:46.future. That was a fabulous introduction to my question about
:48:47. > :48:50.the Hendry review. I know the government has received it. I'm
:48:51. > :48:54.confident it has made some clear and useful recommendations. What I would
:48:55. > :48:59.like to know is does the government intend to make it public soon and
:49:00. > :49:04.what are its thoughts about some of his comments and recommendations? I
:49:05. > :49:08.am grateful to my honourable friend and I would like to put on record my
:49:09. > :49:13.gratitude to Charles Hendry for having written his report. I think
:49:14. > :49:16.it's important it is published soon. Charles Hendry is travelling at the
:49:17. > :49:20.moment but as soon as he is back, I will agree with him a date that he
:49:21. > :49:24.can publish it and then he can answer questions about it. It's a
:49:25. > :49:27.substantial document and my honourable friend will understand we
:49:28. > :49:33.will want to consider it and make a response in due course. New research
:49:34. > :49:38.from Edinburgh University finds electricity generation from wind
:49:39. > :49:43.farms cuts even more greenhouse gas emissions than previously known.
:49:44. > :49:47.It's the same as taking 2.3 million cars off the road. Meanwhile, the
:49:48. > :49:51.government's own figures predict their renewables cuts will see 63
:49:52. > :49:55.million tonnes more CO2 being released into the atmosphere. Will
:49:56. > :50:03.the Minister clarify how they plan to continue cutting emissions, as
:50:04. > :50:07.the leader of the house confirmed with me, while bringing in policies
:50:08. > :50:11.that will bind them up? What members need to understand is that topical
:50:12. > :50:17.questions were always intended to be brief. We cannot have these five
:50:18. > :50:23.senses questions. One once a brief question. In the New Year, we would
:50:24. > :50:26.be publishing our plan, which is a legal requirement for the government
:50:27. > :50:32.to set out exactly how we expect to meet our commitments. I thank the
:50:33. > :50:37.Minister, in relation to my private members Bill on the regulation of
:50:38. > :50:46.this laser pen. Can the Minister clarify when that consultation will
:50:47. > :50:50.start? I congratulate my honourable friend for all the wiki has done to
:50:51. > :50:54.bring the misuse of laser pointers to the attention of the government.
:50:55. > :50:59.The government is very concerned about the misuse of high-powered
:51:00. > :51:01.laser pointers and will be seeking evidence on potential options for
:51:02. > :51:08.tackling this misuse early next year. A review by academics at Leeds
:51:09. > :51:14.University business School and the University of Exeter found that for
:51:15. > :51:18.every pound invested in the union learning fund, there is a return of
:51:19. > :51:24.?12 and 70. This leads to an estimated net contribution to the
:51:25. > :51:28.economy of ?1.45 million and an estimated return to the Exchequer of
:51:29. > :51:34.the pound 57 for each ?1 spent. With this in mind, what steps are being
:51:35. > :51:41.made to ensure there is much, much better engagement? We look forward
:51:42. > :51:47.to reading this research. It's clearly Gottesman testing findings
:51:48. > :51:51.of which will take full note. A business in my constituency in the
:51:52. > :51:55.construction industry has alerted me to corporate mandate for, worry
:51:56. > :52:01.Forster pretends to be a company and asks its camps timbers to change
:52:02. > :52:04.bank account details. What steps can the Minister take to alert
:52:05. > :52:10.businesses and what discussions has he had with Home Secretary? I am
:52:11. > :52:13.grateful to my honourable friend for drawing attention to this type of
:52:14. > :52:17.fraud which affects businesses in all sectors. It is essential that
:52:18. > :52:22.business owners and staff know what to do when they are notified of
:52:23. > :52:26.changed bank account details and the best pointer in the first instance
:52:27. > :52:32.is advice available on the action fraud website. Research published
:52:33. > :52:40.this week by Scottish renewables shows that expertise is in demand
:52:41. > :52:45.around the world, Scottish companies being involved in 43 countries. What
:52:46. > :52:50.support world the UK Government give to the sector? The transition to
:52:51. > :52:55.cleaner energies is fundamental to our energy strategy and significant
:52:56. > :53:01.supply chain opportunities flow from that. In terms of the government's
:53:02. > :53:07.commitment, this country is seeing one of the fastest deployments of
:53:08. > :53:13.renewable energy across the country. We have renewed our commitment. With
:53:14. > :53:15.engineering and textiles doing particularly well in Holland this
:53:16. > :53:21.field at the moment, will the Department continued to commit to an
:53:22. > :53:26.industrial strategy? -- Huddersfield. I certainly will. It's
:53:27. > :53:29.very important that industrial strategy and business policy should
:53:30. > :53:37.recognise the strengths of particular places and Yorkshire is a
:53:38. > :53:42.particularly fine example. Two weeks ago, GB energy ceased trading
:53:43. > :53:46.affecting 160,000 customers. Credit to Chen for ensuring those customers
:53:47. > :53:56.were transferred to another supplier in a prompt. Does the Secretary of
:53:57. > :54:00.State believed that things need to change, so that more rigorous
:54:01. > :54:04.financial health checks undertaken to minimise the risk of failure,
:54:05. > :54:13.disruption to customers and loss of confidence. The honourable gentleman
:54:14. > :54:16.can now breathe! I am grateful and I would commend, as he has done, of
:54:17. > :54:22.chairman for the arrangements they put in place. I think you raises a
:54:23. > :54:25.very reasonable point. You will want to work with me to make sure we do
:54:26. > :54:32.have the right arrangements in place. Can my right honourable
:54:33. > :54:35.friend ensure that those who benefit from self-employment are aware that
:54:36. > :54:39.there are different kinds of national insurance contribution and
:54:40. > :54:43.ensure that they are able to pay the correct class, so that in the event
:54:44. > :54:48.they we the jobs market, they are able to access the full range of
:54:49. > :54:51.support available to other types of job-seeker? Earlier this year, the
:54:52. > :54:55.Prime Minister commissioned Matthew Taylor to carry out an independent
:54:56. > :55:00.review into modern employment practices, such as the example just
:55:01. > :55:05.given. It was part of ensuring we have an economy that works for
:55:06. > :55:12.everyone. I am sure my honourable friend will in addition consider the
:55:13. > :55:17.honourable member's suggestion. The energy intensive industries
:55:18. > :55:21.compensation scheme is due to end in April 20 17. The government has
:55:22. > :55:24.promised to bring forward legislation to exempt energy
:55:25. > :55:28.intensive industries from renewable obligations and tariffs. We are
:55:29. > :55:32.still waiting for that to happen. As things stand, the steel industry is
:55:33. > :55:35.looking down the barrel of having to go back to the crippling energy
:55:36. > :55:39.costs that it faced until the compensation package was in place.
:55:40. > :55:40.Can the Secretary of State assure us that measures will be put in place
:55:41. > :55:52.to ensure we don't go back to that The discussions we have had with the
:55:53. > :55:56.steel sector, they obviously emphasise the importance of energy
:55:57. > :56:02.costs and our commitment is to work with the sector to bring them down.
:56:03. > :56:05.Skills have been removed from his department portfolio, yet for many
:56:06. > :56:11.businesses in the Bradford district, access to talent remains a key
:56:12. > :56:14.challenge, so how will the Secretary of State ensure that education
:56:15. > :56:18.policy dovetails with his department priorities to make sure businesses
:56:19. > :56:22.have access to the skills that they leave? With higher and further
:56:23. > :56:27.education policy, apprenticeship and skills in a single department, the
:56:28. > :56:32.Government can take a comprehensive end to end you skills and education,
:56:33. > :56:39.this will support people from the early years through to postgraduate
:56:40. > :56:42.study and work. Is it not time for the Secretary of State to order an
:56:43. > :56:50.investigation into the processes of the Royal Bank of Scotland?
:56:51. > :56:54.The situation with the Royal Bank of Scotland is under review and
:56:55. > :57:00.proposals, I am sure, will be made in the near future. Now that the
:57:01. > :57:04.future of Hinkley Point is secure, what further plans does my right
:57:05. > :57:08.honourable friend have for nuclear energy to form a key part of energy
:57:09. > :57:12.supply? It is important that it should form
:57:13. > :57:16.a key part, one of the pieces of neglect of the previously the macro
:57:17. > :57:20.Government is that they presided over the forecast closure of nuclear
:57:21. > :57:24.fleets without any plans to replace it. When I made the statement about
:57:25. > :57:29.Hinkley Point see, I also said that this would be the beginning of a new
:57:30. > :57:40.era of civil nuclear power in this country, which is absolutely right.
:57:41. > :57:43.In the same week when we saw the merger with Tata Steel, we saw
:57:44. > :57:50.another merger. What risk assessment has been made about China and its
:57:51. > :58:00.facts on the British Steel industry? I join him in paying tribute to the
:58:01. > :58:05.companies and the trade unions who have worked constructively together,
:58:06. > :58:10.the progress is welcome. I have with my honourable friend a very regular
:58:11. > :58:14.dialogue with both the employers and the trade unions, we have been
:58:15. > :58:19.active, as he knows, in making sure that we have the right trait
:58:20. > :58:25.defences against unfair practices from countries that don't steal
:58:26. > :58:29.unfairly in the UK market. Though business rates are set by the
:58:30. > :58:32.valuations office agency rather than Government, I think it is right back
:58:33. > :58:37.Government tries to soften the blow for those most affected. Can the
:58:38. > :58:40.Minister expand on what he was doing to protect businesses using solar
:58:41. > :58:46.panels that have been adversely impacted by high business rates?
:58:47. > :58:49.My honourable friend is right to point out that these rates are set
:58:50. > :58:55.independently, she will know that the overall Met affected the reforms
:58:56. > :58:59.are to reduce business rates, she'll also know there is transitional
:59:00. > :59:03.relief in place. But she is right to highlight the challenge set by
:59:04. > :59:07.business installations for their own use and we are working through that
:59:08. > :59:11.as an issue. When will the Government publisher
:59:12. > :59:15.'s response to the Law Commission report on consumer reap --
:59:16. > :59:19.prepayments on retail insolvency, we need to do more to protect consumers
:59:20. > :59:24.when businesses go into administration. I will noble lady's
:59:25. > :59:30.comments and I will write to her, I am sorry that I did not hear all of
:59:31. > :59:36.the question, I apologise. -- I will write the lady's comments.
:59:37. > :59:41.I know the company which provides high-quality, high wage, high skill.
:59:42. > :59:46.What consideration is being given to energy price competitiveness with
:59:47. > :59:48.European neighbours as a more competitive energy price would
:59:49. > :59:53.disproportionately benefit the Northern powerhouse. As I said to a
:59:54. > :59:58.number of honourable members, the energy prices paid by businesses
:59:59. > :00:00.generally, but energy intensive industries particularly, Oracle
:00:01. > :00:06.shall point of competitiveness and we wish to work with them to reduce
:00:07. > :00:11.cost. Nissan has benefited from the
:00:12. > :00:14.pre-Brexit deal, what a reassuring scan we offer Brighton -based
:00:15. > :00:19.businesses like American Express and EDF that they can still have an open
:00:20. > :00:22.and free relationship with the EU. American Express are a very
:00:23. > :00:27.important in Playa in Brighton and very welcome here. They came to
:00:28. > :00:32.locate in Britain because it is a fantastic place to do business bomb.
:00:33. > :00:37.Wherever I travel around the world, this is the message that I reported
:00:38. > :00:42.-- a fantastic place to do business from. He will know of recent success
:00:43. > :00:46.stories, I hope American Express will continue to invest more and
:00:47. > :00:53.employ more in his constituency. Following the collapse of the
:00:54. > :00:56.greater Lincolnshire devolution deal, events and Humber and
:00:57. > :01:00.Lincolnshire take on greater significance. There is concern that
:01:01. > :01:05.funding from central government might be lost as a result of the
:01:06. > :01:12.collapse of the deal, will it be used to channel funds from his
:01:13. > :01:18.department where suitable projects are identified? We regard local
:01:19. > :01:22.growth is being very important as a component of the industrial
:01:23. > :01:25.strategy, he knows I have been a big champion of local growth. I will
:01:26. > :01:32.want to see more of that. Obviously there are certain offers part of the
:01:33. > :01:35.proposed deal, but these are never compulsory and if the council some
:01:36. > :01:41.businesses do not want to proceed then Matt is a matter for them.
:01:42. > :01:45.With the Minister agree that as part of the industrial strategy that the
:01:46. > :01:50.future development of enterprise zones would be of great economic
:01:51. > :01:55.development, especially to the manufacturing sector? I agree that
:01:56. > :02:00.enterprise zones have been successful, they have provided some
:02:01. > :02:03.tax advantages but also provided in many cases a simplified regulatory
:02:04. > :02:09.environment, which is very attractive to businesses. I think
:02:10. > :02:15.there experience commends them. Order, statement the Secretary of
:02:16. > :02:28.State for Health. Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
:02:29. > :02:33.Mr Speaker, on the 12th of April this year I asked the sea QC to
:02:34. > :02:40.conduct an investigation into lessons that needed to be learned
:02:41. > :02:46.following the tragic death of Connor sparrowhawk in 2013 at seven health
:02:47. > :02:51.NHS Trust. I want to start by paying tribute to his family, particularly
:02:52. > :02:55.his mother, Sara Ryan, but her persistent and determined
:02:56. > :02:59.campaigning for a proper investigation into what happened.
:03:00. > :03:02.The lessons of mid-Staffs, Morecambe Bay and other injustices like
:03:03. > :03:06.Hillsborough is that when families speak out, we must listen. In this
:03:07. > :03:07.case, thanks