:00:00. > :00:10.Hello and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage of the
:00:11. > :00:13.House of Commons. Today is the start of two days of debate on the general
:00:14. > :00:18.principles of the Government's Bill to give the Prime Minister the power
:00:19. > :00:22.to enact Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and start the process for
:00:23. > :00:26.leaving the European Union. The debate will begin at around 12.
:00:27. > :00:30.40 and continue until Midnight before resuming tomorrow.
:00:31. > :00:33.MPs will vote tomorrow evening at around 7 o'clock.
:00:34. > :00:37.Ministers want to get the Bill passed in both Houses of Parliament
:00:38. > :00:42.in time to trigger the process by the 31th March.
:00:43. > :00:46.Join me for a round-up of the day in both Houses of Parliament at 11
:00:47. > :00:50.tonight. First, questions to the Secretary of State for Business,
:00:51. > :00:55.energy and industrial strategy, Greg Clark, and his ministerial team.
:00:56. > :01:08.THE SPEAKER: Order, order. Her Majesty has signified her Royal
:01:09. > :01:16.assent to the following Acts, policing and crime Act 2017, Wales
:01:17. > :01:19.Act 2017. Order, questions to the Secretary of State for Business,
:01:20. > :01:24.energy and industrial strategy. Lilian Greenwood.
:01:25. > :01:27.Number one, Mr Speaker. Thank you very much indeed, Mr
:01:28. > :01:31.Speaker. The first section of our green paper
:01:32. > :01:36.industrial strategy sets out our ambition to make Britain the best
:01:37. > :01:39.nation in the world for scientists, innovators and technical inventors.
:01:40. > :01:43.In support of this, we have announced an increase of ?4.7
:01:44. > :01:47.billion in public research and development funds, the biggest
:01:48. > :01:53.increase in support of science for 40 years. In evidence to the
:01:54. > :01:56.Education Select Committee last week, Professor Arthur, President of
:01:57. > :02:03.University College London spoke not only of the huge sums of money
:02:04. > :02:07.flowing into research in the UK through Europe, a rise in 2020 and
:02:08. > :02:11.the European Council, but also for a system that replaces the mobility of
:02:12. > :02:16.the people, the networking and working across multiple boundaries.
:02:17. > :02:23.Does he recognise if the Euro-sceptics in his party prevail
:02:24. > :02:26.and we have a hard Brexit, even spending 3% of GDP on funding won't
:02:27. > :02:30.be enough for scientific research and what is he doing to stand up for
:02:31. > :02:33.the needs of this sector? What I would say to the honourable lady and
:02:34. > :02:36.she has two very eminent universities in her constituency,
:02:37. > :02:40.they are going from strength-to-strength. But she will
:02:41. > :02:43.know, and I agree with her, that having the best researchers from
:02:44. > :02:46.across the world coming to our universities, is very important, and
:02:47. > :02:51.it was one of the points that the Prime Minister made in her speech at
:02:52. > :02:56.Lancaster House. That is a priority for our negotiations.
:02:57. > :02:59.Of course part of that science funding includes the funding of the
:03:00. > :03:02.satellite sector which is an important industrial base for the
:03:03. > :03:07.United Kingdom and the Government's set its own target within the next
:03:08. > :03:11.two decades to increase it by a further 10% of global share. What
:03:12. > :03:16.more money could be put into the satellite sector from the industrial
:03:17. > :03:20.strategy challenge fund? My right honourable friend raises an
:03:21. > :03:24.important point. We say in the strategy that we should build on our
:03:25. > :03:31.strengths and the satellite sector is a shining British strength. We
:03:32. > :03:35.have huge numbers of jobs being created in that sector. It's
:03:36. > :03:38.specified throughout the industrial strategy as an area in which we want
:03:39. > :03:41.the industry to work together to ensure we are particularly training
:03:42. > :03:47.the technicians and engineers in that sector in the future.
:03:48. > :03:51.Thank you, Mr Speaker. The industrial strategy quite rightly
:03:52. > :03:54.points out to the crucial significance and investment in
:03:55. > :04:00.science in our future economy and productivity. Given the fact that
:04:01. > :04:04.currently, the USA, Germany and France, all outspend us in this
:04:05. > :04:07.area, can he give a commitment that the future spending will actually
:04:08. > :04:11.outstrip them to give us some sort of competitive advantage over them?
:04:12. > :04:14.Well, the honourable gentleman is a thoughtful member on these matters,
:04:15. > :04:20.having chaired the select scomitty, and he will see in the green paper,
:04:21. > :04:24.we are very candid about the need to keep the pace -- committee. We have
:04:25. > :04:29.increased the public investment that we have. He should know - he
:04:30. > :04:34.mentions the US and is right to do so - but in terms of proportion
:04:35. > :04:38.national investment, it's higher than in Germany, Japan, Sweden,
:04:39. > :04:40.Denmark, Finland and Norway and other countries besides, so we are
:04:41. > :04:43.building on strength but want to take it forward and I look forward
:04:44. > :04:48.to his contribution to the consultation.
:04:49. > :04:52.There is great concern about the future of fusion research after
:04:53. > :04:56.Britain pulls out of the European Union. Could the Secretary of State
:04:57. > :05:02.give reassurance that he'll continue to support and fully fund the joint
:05:03. > :05:05.European project after Britain leaves the European Union? I would
:05:06. > :05:11.say to my right honourable friend that the collaboration we have
:05:12. > :05:17.between scientists and between workers in the nuclear sector is one
:05:18. > :05:19.of the important aspects of continued cooperation that we very
:05:20. > :05:24.much want and intend to see continue.
:05:25. > :05:30.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Yes, the green paper does make much of
:05:31. > :05:34.reannouncing a welcome increase in science spend which following cuts
:05:35. > :05:38.of up to 50% over the last seven years, has finally returned to it
:05:39. > :05:45.the levels of the last Labour Government. However, R D funding
:05:46. > :05:49.remains barely half the recommended 3% target that Labour has committed
:05:50. > :05:54.to. So does the Secretary of State agree that, given the impact of
:05:55. > :05:59.Brexit on UK science, the lack of any overarching vision, the focus on
:06:00. > :06:01.picking sector winners, rather than mobilising the whole...
:06:02. > :06:04.THE SPEAKER: Extremely grateful to the honourable lady. Order. I'm
:06:05. > :06:09.sorry, we have got a lot to get through. The frontbench on both
:06:10. > :06:13.sides must be much more self-disciplined, it's not fair on
:06:14. > :06:17.backbenchers. Secretary of State? The honourable lady didn't have it
:06:18. > :06:20.right. She should know, and the science sector has welcomed the fact
:06:21. > :06:23.that we protected funding for science during all of the difficult
:06:24. > :06:28.years in which we were recovering from the finances that the party
:06:29. > :06:32.opposite gave. There was a huge welcome for the ?2 billion a year
:06:33. > :06:34.increase, it's the biggest since 1979. In other words it's bigger
:06:35. > :06:43.than any Labour Government ever offered.
:06:44. > :06:48.Thank you. With your permission, I will answer this question together
:06:49. > :06:52.with questions five, six and 11. The UK has the second largest aerospace
:06:53. > :06:56.industry worldwide with strengths in some of the most technologically
:06:57. > :07:01.advanced parts of aircraft wings, engines and advance systems. The
:07:02. > :07:08.sector has annual turnover of ?30 billion and exports some ?20 billion
:07:09. > :07:11.a year. Leading aerospace designers and
:07:12. > :07:14.manufacturers see aerospace in my constituency speak positively of
:07:15. > :07:19.support from the Government's sharing in growth scheme which they
:07:20. > :07:22.say will be key in helping the company realise its ambitious growth
:07:23. > :07:26.strategy. Would the minister congratulate the company on their
:07:27. > :07:30.plans and consider visiting Congleton to learn more about this?
:07:31. > :07:34.I absolutely share her congratulations to the company in
:07:35. > :07:37.question. I have myself visited companies benefitted from the
:07:38. > :07:40.sharing of growth programme and would be delighted to visit them in
:07:41. > :07:45.her constituency. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Rochester and
:07:46. > :07:52.Stroud has a proud aerospace history. It's now home to an
:07:53. > :07:57.important supply chain for Airbus. Could my right honourable friend
:07:58. > :08:01.outline how he'll ensure the supply chain will continue to have
:08:02. > :08:05.unhindered access to major opportunities within our
:08:06. > :08:08.manufacturing industry? As the honourable lady will know, the
:08:09. > :08:12.aerospace growth has been a success in which the way Government's worked
:08:13. > :08:16.closely with industry and, as part of that, the Government's made a
:08:17. > :08:21.joint funding commitment with the industry for nearly ?4 billion of
:08:22. > :08:23.aerospace research between 2013 and 2026. So I think the future is
:08:24. > :08:32.realtively well funded. Thank you, Mr Speaker. What
:08:33. > :08:37.guarantees will the minister give to the group representing the UK
:08:38. > :08:42.aerospace industry ADS when he states that they must have "access
:08:43. > :08:49.to vital space programmes initiated by the new Space Agency, but also
:08:50. > :08:52.funded by specific EU programmes"? Well, my right honourable friend,
:08:53. > :08:57.the Secretary of State, already talked about the importance of the
:08:58. > :09:01.satellite programmes that we have got in this country and, the
:09:02. > :09:04.European Space Agency sits outside the EU structure itself and
:09:05. > :09:09.therefore will be handled separately from EU discussions.
:09:10. > :09:16.Following the contracts signed in Turkey last week by the United
:09:17. > :09:20.Kingdom and Turkey on the new Turkish fighter jet, does my right
:09:21. > :09:24.honourable friend see this as an endorsement in skills and expertise
:09:25. > :09:29.of BAE Systems in this country, and does he foresee future deals leg
:09:30. > :09:32.done with other countries? Well, I think everyone concerned with the
:09:33. > :09:38.aerospace sector will welcome that transaction. It shows how BAE
:09:39. > :09:43.continues to be a global leader in this sector and we'll go on to do
:09:44. > :09:47.further such work around the world. Last two years, Glasgow's built more
:09:48. > :09:52.satellites than any other city in Europe, where there are 100 private
:09:53. > :09:54.sector organisations, collidespace has contributed more than ?130
:09:55. > :09:58.million to the Scottish economy. This is much credited to Scotland's
:09:59. > :10:02.long-standing strength in engineering in strength, science and
:10:03. > :10:05.technology. As he face a hard Tory Brexit, will the Secretary of State
:10:06. > :10:10.make a commitment that the sector will be protected and there'll be no
:10:11. > :10:15.detriment to the vital sector and the jobs? The success of Scotland
:10:16. > :10:20.has been part of a wider UK success. I echo the point the lady meant. I
:10:21. > :10:24.was in Glasgow last week looking and talking to hi-tech companies at the
:10:25. > :10:31.university and I can absolutely vouch for their quality.
:10:32. > :10:35.Mr Speaker, in my former career as an aerospace engineer, I saw several
:10:36. > :10:41.examples where - they haven't heard the question yet, Mr Speaker! I saw
:10:42. > :10:43.several examples where the competitiveness was diminished by
:10:44. > :10:47.political enforcement of collaboration and engineering across
:10:48. > :10:50.Europe. Will he ensure that in future collaboration across Europe
:10:51. > :10:55.on aerospace matters is where it's productive and not where it suits
:10:56. > :11:00.geopolitical objectives? I admire the subtle and unobtrusive
:11:01. > :11:06.way in which my colleague brought his personal experience into that
:11:07. > :11:12.question and I can assure him that we'll take a thoroughly cooperative
:11:13. > :11:16.approach. At the recent Steel 2020 report
:11:17. > :11:21.noted steel is a key foundation industry for the UK that underpins
:11:22. > :11:27.our aerospace automotive and many other sectors.
:11:28. > :11:31.But, in their 130-page industrial strategy green paper, steel is
:11:32. > :11:32.mentioned just once. Can he explain why he's neglecting this important
:11:33. > :11:41.industry? I am very surprised to hear her say
:11:42. > :11:49.that because the Government has had very productive discussions with the
:11:50. > :11:58.steel industry indeed. Number three, please, Mr Speaker. With your
:11:59. > :12:06.permission, I will answer this together with questions four, 12 and
:12:07. > :12:10.17. The website and helpline provides information on starting and
:12:11. > :12:14.running a business. Hubs provide access to local and national
:12:15. > :12:21.support. There are 4.8 million people currently self-employed. When
:12:22. > :12:26.I started a business myself, one of the most intimidating elements was
:12:27. > :12:30.employing my first member of staff. What more can the Government do to
:12:31. > :12:37.in courage and support the self-employed to grow and become
:12:38. > :12:40.employers in their own right? We will support entrepreneurs across
:12:41. > :12:47.the UK to ensure they can access finance and wider support to grow.
:12:48. > :12:52.Bank programmes are already supporting ?3.2 billion worth of
:12:53. > :12:56.finance to over 51,000 smaller businesses, including start-up loans
:12:57. > :13:03.to 39 entrepreneurs in my honourable friend's constituency. This is a
:13:04. > :13:07.matter close to my heart as someone who was self-employed until a few
:13:08. > :13:22.months ago. The many self-employed businesses in the areas of West
:13:23. > :13:28.Oxfordshire. We need deregulation, helping businesses to attract and
:13:29. > :13:33.seek the finance they need. We continue to work hard to make the UK
:13:34. > :13:39.a great place to start and grow a business. We are currently,
:13:40. > :13:42.according to the OECD statistics, third internationally for the best
:13:43. > :13:46.pace to start a business, but we are 13th for the best place to grow a
:13:47. > :13:52.business which is where my focus is going to live. I very much welcome
:13:53. > :13:59.the support of my honourable friend -- lie. North Kensington has several
:14:00. > :14:05.fantastic initiatives were new start-ups have access to shared
:14:06. > :14:13.space. Have they any plans to reduce business rates for small companies
:14:14. > :14:19.using shared space initiatives? The Treasury has no plans specifically
:14:20. > :14:23.for shared work spaces, however, at the last budget, the Chancellor
:14:24. > :14:27.announced 6.7 billion of cuts benefiting all business ratepayers,
:14:28. > :14:38.including permanently doubling small business rate relief thresholds from
:14:39. > :14:41.2017. Can my honourable friend tell the House how the industrial
:14:42. > :14:49.strategy will support disabled people who want to start and grow
:14:50. > :14:53.their own businesses? The disabled employment programme is a very
:14:54. > :14:59.important part of our work in labour markets and it is backed by many top
:15:00. > :15:03.retailers and we will continue to press and work with the Department
:15:04. > :15:09.for Work and Pensions for greater access to work for people with
:15:10. > :15:15.disabilities. In order to grow businesses, they need to have access
:15:16. > :15:22.to good quality training. I met with the Doncaster YMCA last week and
:15:23. > :15:27.their apprentices and there was an issue about clarity of funding in
:15:28. > :15:30.the transition arrangements from the skills fund agency to the Department
:15:31. > :15:37.for Education. Can the Minister take an urgent look at this? I thank her
:15:38. > :15:41.for bringing this to our attention. Skills and a new approach to
:15:42. > :15:44.improving access to schools and apprenticeships is a fundamental
:15:45. > :15:47.part of our new industrial strategy and I will raise the matter she has
:15:48. > :15:53.raised this morning with the Secretary of State for Education.
:15:54. > :16:00.Thank you. Given the fact that many self-employed people recruit
:16:01. > :16:04.apprentices and also others who are seeking employment and given the
:16:05. > :16:07.report recently produced by the Institute for Fiscal Studies,
:16:08. > :16:12.casting doubt on the effectiveness of apprentices and their training
:16:13. > :16:23.scheme and apprenticeship with every, what is the Government going
:16:24. > :16:27.to do about that? -- levy. The new academies programme for improving
:16:28. > :16:32.skills and access to apprenticeships, it is working with
:16:33. > :16:38.the existing programme to improve both the quality and numbers of
:16:39. > :16:42.apprentices. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Further education colleges have an
:16:43. > :16:49.important role in skills and trading and they can help many people into
:16:50. > :16:56.work. Does it make sense to cut the budget of further education
:16:57. > :17:02.colleges? Further education colleges remain a very important part of our
:17:03. > :17:05.strategy to improve skills and access to apprenticeships, but they
:17:06. > :17:11.are not the only route. The apprentice levy will increase
:17:12. > :17:21.funding for the overall access to schools for our young people.
:17:22. > :17:25.Digital tax updates, it is a real concern for the self-employed and
:17:26. > :17:29.small businesses. HMIC says support is available. Can the Minister
:17:30. > :17:32.outlined the support available to help self-employed businesses and
:17:33. > :17:43.how much funding is set aside for the support? The honourable
:17:44. > :17:47.gentleman talks about the... I am so sorry. I did not follow all of his
:17:48. > :17:52.question. But I know the Treasury are looking at the fairness of
:17:53. > :17:57.taxation between self-employed people and the rest of the workforce
:17:58. > :18:06.and I will read his question in Hansard and write to him
:18:07. > :18:08.accordingly. With the ranks of self-employed being expanded by an
:18:09. > :18:15.increase in independent working, will she make sure that labour
:18:16. > :18:24.market regulations are updated so that employee rights are maintained?
:18:25. > :18:27.I very much agree with the thrust of my honourable friend's question and
:18:28. > :18:34.the Prime Minister appointed Matthew Taylor to undertake a review of
:18:35. > :18:39.practices in the modern economy to ensure that whilst we impress new
:18:40. > :18:45.technology, we also protect workers' rights -- we embrace. What is the
:18:46. > :18:50.Government doing about the scourge of bogus offer employment which too
:18:51. > :18:56.often is a rip off of the workers concerned and a rip-off of HMIC? The
:18:57. > :19:03.review will also look at that very important point, a worker's contract
:19:04. > :19:09.with the employer is the fundamental basis on which they are judged to be
:19:10. > :19:14.self-employed or a worker and that distinction will be closely
:19:15. > :19:26.scrutinised by Matthew Taylor. Number seven, please, Mr Speaker.
:19:27. > :19:33.SMEs in Kent are fundamental to the economy, as everywhere else. The
:19:34. > :19:37.Government through local growth funds and Kent County Council and
:19:38. > :19:44.the Kent and Medway business operations will ensure that Kent and
:19:45. > :19:51.the Medway benefit hugely in the terms of the increase in numbers of
:19:52. > :19:54.SMEs. Taking into account the Government's commitment to
:19:55. > :19:59.investment in infrastructure which will assist businesses in Medway and
:20:00. > :20:03.Kent, can the Minister confirm that Government's commitment to the lower
:20:04. > :20:07.Thames crossing along with extra investment for roads providing
:20:08. > :20:12.connectivity for local businesses in the Medway and Kent? The Department
:20:13. > :20:15.for Transport will make an announcement on the issue my
:20:16. > :20:21.honourable friend has raised, but he should be reassured that Kent County
:20:22. > :20:25.Council and the relevant business organisations are working closely
:20:26. > :20:31.with my department to ensure there are extensive improvements to the
:20:32. > :20:36.transport infrastructure in his constituency and the wider county.
:20:37. > :20:43.Not on the matter, purely focused on Kent and Medway, in which I'm sure
:20:44. > :20:49.the honourable lady specialises. You can be assured of that. The SMEs in
:20:50. > :20:55.Kent and Medway need someone to fight their corner in government. In
:20:56. > :20:59.July, 2015, they were promised a small business commissioner that
:21:00. > :21:01.would have a particular focus on late payments. The Federation of
:21:02. > :21:06.Small Businesses have raised concerns about the lack of power the
:21:07. > :21:08.commissioner will have and that 18 months after the position was
:21:09. > :21:15.created, there is no sign of a commissioner. Can she tell SMEs in
:21:16. > :21:18.Kent and Medway for whom I have the greatest regard and across the
:21:19. > :21:22.country, when will the commission be appointed and will there be proper
:21:23. > :21:31.powers given to the commissioner to ensure companies who do not pay
:21:32. > :21:36.taken to task? I can reassure in the first instance the honourable lady
:21:37. > :21:43.that the constituency of Kent and Medway is ably championed by my
:21:44. > :21:49.honourable friend who asked the original question. But apropos her
:21:50. > :21:53.point about the small business commissioner, we are in the process
:21:54. > :21:57.of appointing the commissioner at the moment and he will be imposed by
:21:58. > :22:01.the summer and able to take complaints on the very important
:22:02. > :22:09.issue she raises of prompt payment in the autumn of this year. Question
:22:10. > :22:13.eight. Thank you. The Hendry review published its report earlier this
:22:14. > :22:15.month. The Government is considering the recommendations and the issues
:22:16. > :22:21.that would arise from a broader lagoon programme including the
:22:22. > :22:27.Government will publish a response generated by tidal
:22:28. > :22:30.Government will publish a response in due course. As an MP with a
:22:31. > :22:34.constituency on the coast, following the review, it has been estimated
:22:35. > :22:39.building some ten tidal lagoon power stations by 2030 could generate 10%
:22:40. > :22:43.of our electricity. When considering the economics of the scheme, will he
:22:44. > :22:45.take into account the wider benefits for British manufacturing and
:22:46. > :22:53.technology of becoming a world leader in this clean technology? My
:22:54. > :22:56.colleague is right to recognise that the question must be considered in
:22:57. > :23:04.the round and not merely on the merits of the Swansea scheme. It is
:23:05. > :23:07.the Government's job to consider the advantages and disadvantages of
:23:08. > :23:11.tidal lagoons as a whole and to take a decision which includes not merely
:23:12. > :23:15.financial elements but also environmental, the capacity to
:23:16. > :23:19.generate power, as part of a wider energy mix, and ancillary elements
:23:20. > :23:24.as well. The Minister surely knows that all kinds of alternative energy
:23:25. > :23:29.including tidal power need good recruits, trainees and indeed needs
:23:30. > :23:35.apprentices. Isn't he hanging his head in shame this morning because
:23:36. > :23:38.of the report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, highly respected,
:23:39. > :23:42.that says the apprenticeship programme of this government is a
:23:43. > :23:47.disaster and should be ripped up and started again? When is he going to
:23:48. > :23:54.get real? Purely in relation to tidal lagoons. We're not talking
:23:55. > :23:57.about apprenticeships more widely or shoehorning in a personal interest.
:23:58. > :24:02.The Henri gentleman is philosopher and extras to a fault. Heaven for I
:24:03. > :24:10.should entertain such unworthy suspicions. They are simply reassure
:24:11. > :24:14.him that skills remain at the centre of the Government's concerns and
:24:15. > :24:19.that is why they feature so Pompey in the industrial strategy.
:24:20. > :24:23.Marvellous. The Minister is quite right to say that he will analyse
:24:24. > :24:27.this in the round because while I think many of us will recognise the
:24:28. > :24:34.economic advantage, particularly over a long period, like 100-150
:24:35. > :24:39.years, the environmental impact will be considerable. Can he amplify what
:24:40. > :24:43.sort of things he will be looking at, including how tidal lagoons
:24:44. > :24:50.affect fish life, marine life and bird life? It is of course true that
:24:51. > :24:55.as well as the economic case and value for money issues it raises,
:24:56. > :24:58.there will be wider consideration of the environmental impact, but not
:24:59. > :25:04.just in relation to individual schemes, as they can be understood
:25:05. > :25:10.now, but the way they might accumulate over many tidal lagoons.
:25:11. > :25:13.The Government has been very good at supporting the scheme in Northern
:25:14. > :25:18.Ireland, can we ensure that what is learned in devolved governments
:25:19. > :25:21.makes the most of what we learn from tidal power, not the immense in
:25:22. > :25:26.Northern Ireland, but what we generate? I can again... One
:25:27. > :25:31.hesitates to remind my honourable friend that it is a different matter
:25:32. > :25:37.and technology from tidal lagoons, but I think he can take it as read
:25:38. > :25:39.that officials and ministers will be thinking carefully about all of the
:25:40. > :25:50.relevant precedents bearing on the issue. Thank you. The question this
:25:51. > :25:53.morning was about potential contribution of power generated by
:25:54. > :25:58.tidal lagoons to UK energy provision and my understanding is that a
:25:59. > :26:04.limited deployment of tidal lagoons in the seven history alone would
:26:05. > :26:13.contribute about 8% to UK electricity demand -- in the Severn
:26:14. > :26:19.estuary. Can any other technology provide that sort of power in one
:26:20. > :26:26.location? As a clue, Hinkley C is estimated to contribute about 7% to
:26:27. > :26:30.UK energy requirements. I doubt suggest that honourable gentleman is
:26:31. > :26:36.misinformed. It is not quite clear what he thinks of as the lagoons
:26:37. > :26:41.contained in the scheme he describes but Hinkley Point will be a bigger
:26:42. > :26:47.generator than certainly the first round of lagoons and as well as
:26:48. > :26:55.being a high load and more reliable. Question nine, Mr Speaker.
:26:56. > :27:01.Apologies, Mr Speaker. As I have mentioned, the issues considered by
:27:02. > :27:04.the Hendry review complex and the Government will be using and
:27:05. > :27:08.demanding a period of time to assess the recommendations to determine
:27:09. > :27:12.which decision is in the best interests of UK energy consumers. I
:27:13. > :27:13.have said separately in debate but we will not be dragging our heels
:27:14. > :27:25.and we will not. There is huge potential for tidal.
:27:26. > :27:29.I'm concerned about the department dragging its heels. Will the
:27:30. > :27:33.minister assure me there'll be strong leadership to take the
:27:34. > :27:37.recommendations forward to get on with the Swansea and other schemes.
:27:38. > :27:41.I'm very surprised he should say that since it was the department's
:27:42. > :27:44.expectation that the report would have been published before Christmas
:27:45. > :27:48.and it was only published a matter of two or three weeks ago. There is
:27:49. > :27:51.no suggestion the department is dragging its heels. We'll give this
:27:52. > :27:58.however a thorough consideration in the public interest on value for
:27:59. > :28:01.money and other grounds as well. The minister in a previous answer
:28:02. > :28:06.referred to advantages and disadvantages. Would he agree with
:28:07. > :28:12.me that the Swansea bay tide lagoon could not only serve to provide
:28:13. > :28:23.energy needs but could provide needed jobs in my area and would,
:28:24. > :28:27.out Wales at the forefront of developing a very important
:28:28. > :28:31.technology. Proper concern for support and investment in his
:28:32. > :28:38.community, that is absolutely right. The wider implications are being
:28:39. > :28:46.reviewed. This was asked to be considered in power generation. The
:28:47. > :28:50.report that refers to tidal energy. The minister will know that in
:28:51. > :28:57.Northern Ireland the first large scale tidal scheme generator was
:28:58. > :29:01.four times more at that time in the world at Strangford Lock. What
:29:02. > :29:07.consideration will he give to making sure that this energy has been used
:29:08. > :29:13.can be utilised for the benefit of all of Northern Ireland? Well, this,
:29:14. > :29:16.as I indicated in a separate debate with the honourable gentleman, is a
:29:17. > :29:22.different, although related technology. It was funded in part by
:29:23. > :29:26.Government and has been very interesting, the results that it's
:29:27. > :29:29.given. They are a matter of close consideration by officials and we
:29:30. > :29:33.will continue to reflect on the matter. If he wishes to write to me
:29:34. > :29:39.further on this, I would be delighted to take a letter.
:29:40. > :29:42.One of the poor objective -- core objectives is to rebalance the UK
:29:43. > :29:44.economy with engineering, construction and manufacturing,
:29:45. > :29:47.making a larger contribution to economic growth. So does the
:29:48. > :29:51.minister agree that if we are to achieve the objectives we absolutely
:29:52. > :29:56.need to be investing in major infrastructure projects like the
:29:57. > :29:58.tidal lagoon? I absolutely share his view that major infrastructure
:29:59. > :30:02.investments are a huge major part, although only a part of the wider
:30:03. > :30:06.infrastructure investment that can be made and overall investment that
:30:07. > :30:11.can be made in this country as part of the industrial strategy. I do
:30:12. > :30:15.think though that he's right to have said that these wider considerations
:30:16. > :30:20.must be balanced by a tempered assessment of value for money as
:30:21. > :30:24.well and that is what we'll give it. With all due respect to the
:30:25. > :30:29.minister, simply not dragging your department's heels is simply not
:30:30. > :30:32.good enough. The report recommends the minister secures the path-finder
:30:33. > :30:36.project as swiftly as possible. I can promise he'll have the full
:30:37. > :30:41.support of the members on this side of the House, although I'm unsure
:30:42. > :30:45.he'll have the same support of many of those behind you. Will the
:30:46. > :30:48.minister therefore press the Chancellor for an agreement on the
:30:49. > :30:54.Swansea tidal lagoon to be announced in the March budget? Well, again, I
:30:55. > :30:58.admire the honourable gentleman's dexterity in turning three weeks
:30:59. > :31:04.into foot-dragging. Can I just, since given his scrutiny of the
:31:05. > :31:08.review, may I simply remind him that the review itself specifically asks
:31:09. > :31:13.Government to give these issues careful consideration as we will be
:31:14. > :31:19.doing. Thank you, Mr Speaker. As plaintiff
:31:20. > :31:24.the Secretary of State has already said, we are supporting research and
:31:25. > :31:28.development throughout the UK. We protected the resource budget in
:31:29. > :31:33.2015 and committed an additional ?2 billion in the most recent Autumn
:31:34. > :31:38.Statement. The largest increase in science spending since 1979.
:31:39. > :31:41.Thank you, Mr Speaker. A hard Brexit will threaten Scotland's world class
:31:42. > :31:46.university sector and the price of the research development investment
:31:47. > :31:53.that we are talking about is a staggering ?8.8 billion euros from
:31:54. > :32:00.2017-2030. What is being done to protect that vital investment?
:32:01. > :32:03.Scotland is indeed a powerhouse for academic research and we want to
:32:04. > :32:08.play to one of this country's great strengths. So we welcome agreement
:32:09. > :32:10.to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science
:32:11. > :32:14.and technology programmes in years to come. Britain will remain at the
:32:15. > :32:20.forefront of collective endeavours to better understand and improve the
:32:21. > :32:23.world in which we live. Of course, the most important
:32:24. > :32:29.investment that we must safeguard is that of the people that are working
:32:30. > :32:37.in science and research. What is the minister doing to ensure that
:32:38. > :32:41.researchers in Scotland are assured their place, EU researchers are
:32:42. > :32:47.assured a place as we go through the Brexit process? The honourable lady
:32:48. > :32:51.makes an important point and this Government's made clear that we
:32:52. > :32:55.value greatly the contribution that EU nationals make in our
:32:56. > :32:58.institutions. The Government has been exceptionally clear that during
:32:59. > :33:00.negotiations we want to protect the status of EU nationals already
:33:01. > :33:04.living here and the only circumstances in which that would
:33:05. > :33:06.not be possible is if British citizens and other EU member states
:33:07. > :33:19.were not in return being protected. We invest ?2 billion per year in
:33:20. > :33:23.health Life Sciences research through our research councils and
:33:24. > :33:30.through the National Institute of Health research. We are bringing the
:33:31. > :33:33.funding for the biomedical catalyst, we are helping businesses bring the
:33:34. > :33:36.important research to market. In the new industrial strategy, we have
:33:37. > :33:40.recently announced that Sir John Bell will be leading work on a
:33:41. > :33:44.strategy to make the UK the best place in the world for Life
:33:45. > :33:47.Sciences. Alongside the welcome support,
:33:48. > :33:51.critical to the success of the industry will be private investment.
:33:52. > :33:54.Could the minister outline what suggestions he might be making in
:33:55. > :33:57.his budget submission to the Chancellor to stimulate this
:33:58. > :34:00.investment? Well, my right honourable friend
:34:01. > :34:05.makes an important point. Access to finance is key to a dynamic Life
:34:06. > :34:08.Sciences sector in the UK. In November, the Prime Minister
:34:09. > :34:11.announced a review into patient capital to identify barriers to
:34:12. > :34:16.access to long-term finance for growing firms looking at all aspects
:34:17. > :34:18.of the financial system and we look forward to the review's
:34:19. > :34:24.recommendations ahead of the Autumn Statement.
:34:25. > :34:30.The industrial strategy will have a major impact on speeding up the
:34:31. > :34:32.ability to seek. Will my right honourable friend agree or confirm
:34:33. > :34:36.he's working with the Department of Health to ensure the Government's
:34:37. > :34:41.investment will be spent effectively to encourage greater productivity?
:34:42. > :34:46.Indeed. The industrial strategy green paper highlights work on a new
:34:47. > :34:50.strategy for Life Sciences bringing together the health system industry
:34:51. > :34:55.and academia potentially leading to an early sector deal and the
:34:56. > :34:57.accelerated access review sets out a vision of the NHS embracing
:34:58. > :35:05.innovation and Government will respond in due course.
:35:06. > :35:10.One of our most important reforms has been to devolve power and
:35:11. > :35:13.resources to local areas through deals in which local businesses can
:35:14. > :35:16.shape the decisions most affecting them. The honourable lady will have
:35:17. > :35:22.welcomed the fact that last week, half a billion pounds was devolved
:35:23. > :35:24.to northern Local Enterprise Partnerships, including ?130 million
:35:25. > :35:30.to Greater Manchester. Thank you very much. I do very much
:35:31. > :35:34.welcome some of the announcements in the industrial strategy last week,
:35:35. > :35:39.most of them. But the Secretary of State will appreciate that when it
:35:40. > :35:45.comes to key infrastructure issues, such as skills and childcare, they
:35:46. > :35:48.very much have a local area strategy that is required. So what
:35:49. > :35:52.conversations has the Secretary of State had with his colleagues in the
:35:53. > :35:56.Department for Education and across Local Government about real and
:35:57. > :36:01.meaningful devolution of skills and early years and education?
:36:02. > :36:06.My right honourable friend is absolutely right, that the needs of
:36:07. > :36:11.different places should be reflected in decisions that are made locally.
:36:12. > :36:16.It's a big theme of the industrial strategy consultation to which I
:36:17. > :36:18.hope she'll respond, as is the centrality of skills and training so
:36:19. > :36:23.I look forward to her contribution to it.
:36:24. > :36:27.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Business investment in science and technology
:36:28. > :36:32.are key to local economic growth and Britain's leadership of the fourth
:36:33. > :36:39.Industrial Revolution. Will he continue supporting this? I will
:36:40. > :36:42.indeed and I think one of the big opportunities is to make sure the
:36:43. > :36:46.excellence we have in science and research is married with local
:36:47. > :36:49.strength so we can have the products of that research in manufacturing,
:36:50. > :36:58.for example, as well as the discoveries themselves. In Northern
:36:59. > :37:02.Ireland there is only one small enterprise in Coleraine which hasn't
:37:03. > :37:06.really progressed. Can the minister assist the Northern Ireland
:37:07. > :37:11.Executive when it's up and running again for more enterprises within
:37:12. > :37:15.the province -- enterprise zones within the province. I have met with
:37:16. > :37:19.the minister responsible in Northern Ireland and I'm very happy with my
:37:20. > :37:26.colleagues to, when we meet with him again, to consider what his
:37:27. > :37:29.suggestions and proposals are. The borough of Kettering has had one
:37:30. > :37:33.of the fastest rates of business rate growth in the whole country in
:37:34. > :37:36.if last ten years. Would my right honourable friend agree that, with
:37:37. > :37:40.Local Government to be fully funded by business rates from 2020, all
:37:41. > :37:44.local councils are going to have to get far closer to their local
:37:45. > :37:46.businesses in order for the local economies to function as best they
:37:47. > :37:51.could? My right honourable friend is absolutely right, and he knows, as a
:37:52. > :37:56.councillor, whoseth how important it is that that very direct connection
:37:57. > :38:00.is made. It is one of the measures that is going through the House that
:38:01. > :38:03.I was proud to have proposed when I was the Communities Secretary. It's
:38:04. > :38:06.something that Local Government has long campaigned for and I'm
:38:07. > :38:10.delighted this was this Conservative Government that was able to deliver
:38:11. > :38:16.it. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Bank lending
:38:17. > :38:19.is essential for local business success and yesterday's HBOS
:38:20. > :38:23.convictions were a stark reminder of the way smaller businesses were
:38:24. > :38:26.treated during the financial crisis by some banks. Does he accept
:38:27. > :38:31.lending has fallen over the last year and what is he doing to give
:38:32. > :38:35.confidence in the banks unlock support and increase lending?
:38:36. > :38:39.The honourable gentleman is absolutely right to draw attention
:38:40. > :38:44.to the misbehaviour of the banks, especially with regard to small
:38:45. > :38:48.businesses, when they were inadequately supervised as a result
:38:49. > :38:51.of the destruction of the supervisory regime that the previous
:38:52. > :38:56.Government introduced. That is now put on a much more sounder footing
:38:57. > :39:00.and he will know that the lending opportunities for small businesses
:39:01. > :39:05.have been transformed, but the industrial strategy green paper is
:39:06. > :39:07.very clear that we want to make further opportunities available
:39:08. > :39:26.outside London and the south-east in particular.
:39:27. > :39:33.The UK is the largest wind industry, and I visited the new ?300 million
:39:34. > :39:37.Siemens factory which created over 1,000 valuable new jobs in the
:39:38. > :39:41.Humber area. This afternoon, the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership
:39:42. > :39:47.and Humber MPs are staging the showcase event to highlight the
:39:48. > :39:51.assets that the energy estuary has. Could the minister assure business
:39:52. > :39:55.leaders that the Government will continue to support the off shore
:39:56. > :39:58.centre that is based in northern Lincolnshire and the wider Humber
:39:59. > :40:01.region and will he or one of his colleagues find time to visit the
:40:02. > :40:06.event this afternoon? Well, yes to the event and yes to
:40:07. > :40:10.the assurance that he seeks about continued support on top of the
:40:11. > :40:13.growth and the city deals and the enterprise zone programme. My right
:40:14. > :40:18.honourable friend will be well aware of the very significant Government
:40:19. > :40:22.commitment to future contract for different auctions worth ?730
:40:23. > :40:25.million for less mature renewable technologies including off shore
:40:26. > :40:30.wind and I help he welcomes that. What steps is the Government taking
:40:31. > :40:34.to ensure the highest possible UK content in the steel used to build
:40:35. > :40:39.the energy infrastructure in the Humber? It's an extremely important
:40:40. > :40:43.point and part of the calculation on return for investment made by the
:40:44. > :40:49.British taxpayer. Good progress is being made and this shows that ago
:40:50. > :40:52.regated lifetime UK contact in operating windfarms is 43% against a
:40:53. > :40:56.target of around 50% and it's a higher number for the value of
:40:57. > :41:00.operations in maintenance contracts running at 70% of value at the
:41:01. > :41:03.moment. This will be a key area of our focus in the industrial
:41:04. > :41:08.strategy. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Question 16.
:41:09. > :41:13.My right honourable friend has had discussions with the Chancellor in
:41:14. > :41:16.building the Government's industrial strategy which includes ensuring
:41:17. > :41:20.businesses can access the finance they need. We already help
:41:21. > :41:25.businesses through the business finance and support finder on gov.
:41:26. > :41:30.Uk and recently launched the finance platform service which offers SMEs
:41:31. > :41:33.rejected for finance by the large banks the option of a referral to
:41:34. > :41:42.alternative finance providers. With many online alternative finance
:41:43. > :41:49.companies springing up, what is she doing twin short SMEs know about
:41:50. > :41:52.alternative ways of accessing finance and what is she doing to
:41:53. > :42:04.give them confidence to borrow from such organisations? -- what is she
:42:05. > :42:09.doing to ensure a SMEs. The financing options available to
:42:10. > :42:13.businesses including alternative sources of finance. The Financial
:42:14. > :42:17.Conduct Authority regulates peer to peer lending platforms and is
:42:18. > :42:22.currently reviewing its regime to insure it is robust and up to date.
:42:23. > :42:27.What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of bank closures
:42:28. > :42:33.in town centres on the availability of business finance so that town
:42:34. > :42:38.centres such as mine which is losing three banks this year potentially
:42:39. > :42:47.will still have access to business finance and a positive town centre?
:42:48. > :42:52.The impact of bank closures is to some extent ameliorated by the
:42:53. > :43:00.announcement by the post office a few weeks ago whereby the post
:43:01. > :43:07.office will be enabling both personal and SME banking customers
:43:08. > :43:16.to have face to face banking services across the country. We will
:43:17. > :43:23.take the last question on condition... I want to move onto the
:43:24. > :43:28.business promptly. If it is a single sentence, but if it is a long
:43:29. > :43:37.question, we will not bother. Single or short sentence, that is what is
:43:38. > :43:42.required. 19. This year the medical research council will spend ?655
:43:43. > :43:46.million on world-class research, our commitment to the future of the UK
:43:47. > :43:51.as a world leader in biomedical research is unwavering. In November,
:43:52. > :43:54.the Queen opened an institute and will continue to invest in this kind
:43:55. > :43:58.of excellence throughout this Parliament. Autism is the most
:43:59. > :44:03.costly medical condition in the UK and it cost the economy more than
:44:04. > :44:08.?32 billion a year according to the LSE and yet we do not spend hardly
:44:09. > :44:12.anything on research into autism compared to cancer and heart disease
:44:13. > :44:16.and stroke which cost the economy less. What can the Minister do to
:44:17. > :44:24.encourage more spending on autism research which is so vital to people
:44:25. > :44:30.in this country? Between 2010-11 and 2014-15, we spent ?13.3 million on
:44:31. > :44:33.research. They always welcome high-quality applications for
:44:34. > :44:38.support into any aspect of human health and they are subject to peer
:44:39. > :44:41.review. The department for health through the Nationalist you to the
:44:42. > :44:45.search also funds research in the area and the medical research
:44:46. > :44:53.council centre at King's College London open very recently in
:44:54. > :44:57.November, 2016. Chicago is have question framed and put up -- she
:44:58. > :45:07.can always have her question framed. Number one, Mr Speaker. Thank you.
:45:08. > :45:10.With the Prime Minister, we have launched a green paper, part of a
:45:11. > :45:14.cross government plan to build an economy working for everyone.
:45:15. > :45:20.Efforts to secure global investment continued to meet with success, the
:45:21. > :45:23.most recent example of the 150 million investment in Oxford, a
:45:24. > :45:28.further vote of confidence in Britain as a place to do business
:45:29. > :45:31.and science. Today we launch the next energy capacity market auction.
:45:32. > :45:36.Last month I signed a memorandum of corporation with the government of
:45:37. > :45:42.Japan and on Thursday I announced we have secured a second mission to
:45:43. > :45:48.space for certain peak. -- for Tim Peake. May I ask why it
:45:49. > :45:53.extraordinary lead busy friend to turn his attentions to Morecambe as
:45:54. > :45:58.we now have a new link road and we would like an enterprise zone? Would
:45:59. > :46:03.he help me? I am never too busy for Morecambe. I know what a passionate
:46:04. > :46:07.campaigner he has been for the business prospects in his area. I
:46:08. > :46:10.will talk to the Minister for the Northern powerhouse who has
:46:11. > :46:14.responsible T4 enterprise zones and I am sure he will be delighted to
:46:15. > :46:18.meet with him. The Secretary of State plan to impose arbitrary cuts
:46:19. > :46:24.on the pensions of nuclear power workers, it threatens industrial
:46:25. > :46:27.relations in a key sector. Can I urge him to take the opportunity at
:46:28. > :46:32.the meeting this week with trade unions to end his attack on the
:46:33. > :46:38.workers and abandon the rain on the pensions before the industry is
:46:39. > :46:45.turned into chaos? I met with the unions myself last week and we had
:46:46. > :46:51.some very constructive, although undoubtedly robust, conversations
:46:52. > :46:58.and that discussion continues. We hope it will end in a constructive
:46:59. > :47:02.way. Thank you, Mr Speaker. What discussions has my right honourable
:47:03. > :47:06.friend had with representatives of industry in relation to the UK
:47:07. > :47:13.leaving the EU and in particular the steel industry? As he would expect,
:47:14. > :47:19.we meet with my colleagues and representatives of all kinds of
:47:20. > :47:23.businesses, both here and those looking to invest here, and we are
:47:24. > :47:28.very clear, as has been the Prime Minister, that we intend to pursue
:47:29. > :47:32.our negotiations to secure the best possible access to the single market
:47:33. > :47:36.so that the manifest advantages of the UK can continue to be available
:47:37. > :47:43.to companies here, now and in the future. Thank you. European
:47:44. > :47:47.Commission state aid approval for the steel industry is still not in
:47:48. > :47:52.place. Will the Secretary of State guarantee compensation under the
:47:53. > :48:00.package will be provided by the UK Government until the exemption is
:48:01. > :48:04.finally introduced? We are in discussions around the mechanics of
:48:05. > :48:07.that and it do its part of a broader, session the Secretary of
:48:08. > :48:15.State and I are having with senior management of the industry and trade
:48:16. > :48:22.unions about the skewing a sustainable future -- about
:48:23. > :48:28.obtaining a sustainable future. We see lots of opportunities for the
:48:29. > :48:36.college and local industry. He has visitors Loughborough, perhaps I can
:48:37. > :48:40.tempt him to meet in London is too much I commend Loughborough
:48:41. > :48:44.University and the Vice Chancellor. It is a fantastic example of an
:48:45. > :48:49.excellent academic institution making a big impact locally and I
:48:50. > :48:56.always very happy to meet with my right honourable friend and the
:48:57. > :49:00.leadership the fine university. The removal of the renewables obligation
:49:01. > :49:04.and decimation of the tariff has had a few huge negative impact on my
:49:05. > :49:08.constituency with renewables being the one tangible area we have to
:49:09. > :49:11.grind off a highly paid jobs. One year on from the struck only in
:49:12. > :49:23.measures, what we assessment has been made of the policy? I would say
:49:24. > :49:27.that this country is on track to be investing in excess of ?8 million a
:49:28. > :49:32.year by 2020 in terms of the continuing transition to cleaner
:49:33. > :49:37.energy systems and we are talking about a low carbon economy now and
:49:38. > :49:41.generating at last count at least 450,000 jobs and as I made clear in
:49:42. > :49:44.an earlier announcement, there are new commitments in terms of
:49:45. > :49:50.contracts for different auctions for less mature renewable technologies.
:49:51. > :49:55.This government's commitment to new technology is not in doubt. Can I
:49:56. > :49:58.welcome the first two pillars of the industrial strategy, investment in
:49:59. > :50:02.science and developing skills? Will he therefore agreed to meet with me
:50:03. > :50:06.to discuss how the work of my committee can act as a road map in
:50:07. > :50:12.delivering the Government's names? I hope that my honourable friend's
:50:13. > :50:16.committee will engage with the consultation and it is very
:50:17. > :50:20.important that if we are to have a strategy that end users, it needs to
:50:21. > :50:25.take into account the views of all those and on all sides of the House
:50:26. > :50:29.with an interest in securing our economic prosperity and scientific
:50:30. > :50:38.excellence in the future. An ambitious prudes could create half a
:50:39. > :50:41.million new jobs -- and ambitious approach. It is disappointing there
:50:42. > :50:46.is very little mention of resource efficiency and low carbon growth
:50:47. > :50:52.meat growth in the strategy. Can the Government reassure me they are
:50:53. > :50:56.taking it seriously? -- low carbon growth. She says it is not mentioned
:50:57. > :51:02.in the strategy, it is, it is one of the pillars, a commitment to clean
:51:03. > :51:06.growth, and within that, very explicit references to our desire to
:51:07. > :51:11.explore opportunities attached to hire resource and energy
:51:12. > :51:14.productivity. It is 100 years since the destruction of the village
:51:15. > :51:20.following an act of environmental destruction that saw the removal of
:51:21. > :51:26.shingle from the shoreline, but communities in our coastline face an
:51:27. > :51:34.even greater threat of climate change. Will he ensure me -- will he
:51:35. > :51:37.assure me we will not commit the environmental act of vandalism of
:51:38. > :51:42.withdrawing from the Paris agreement? What I would say is as
:51:43. > :51:47.the Prime Minister said in Prime Minister's Questions, this country
:51:48. > :51:50.is fully committed to the Paris agreement, as are all of the
:51:51. > :51:55.countries who endorsed the Marrakesh proclamation. She said that we hope
:51:56. > :52:01.all parties will continue to make sure that climate change agreement
:52:02. > :52:04.is put into practice. Since the EU referendum, the depreciation of
:52:05. > :52:07.sterling has boosted British manufacturing and exports but as we
:52:08. > :52:12.are leaving the EU, will the government now start to support the
:52:13. > :52:18.vital expansion of our industries and the promotion of import
:52:19. > :52:22.substitution? We want British business and industry to compete on
:52:23. > :52:26.the basis that it is excellent and priced competitively. But I think
:52:27. > :52:30.there are opportunities in being outside some of the bureaucracy
:52:31. > :52:34.especially that affect small businesses when it comes to public
:52:35. > :52:43.procurement and that there is one of the opportunities we will be able to
:52:44. > :52:54.take. Has his appetite diminished? No? Get in there. Could I just urge
:52:55. > :52:58.my right honourable friend not to be swayed by the arguments from those
:52:59. > :53:06.opposite to spend a specific amount of our GDP on research for
:53:07. > :53:13.scientific projects? I believe that if the private sector are unwilling
:53:14. > :53:17.to fund these projects, we should ask serious questions about whether
:53:18. > :53:25.the public sector and my hard-working taxpayers should be
:53:26. > :53:27.asked to foot the bill. Private business is an enthusiastic and
:53:28. > :53:35.increasing supporter of investment in science and research. Sometimes
:53:36. > :53:38.that is done jointly with important publicly funded institutions such as
:53:39. > :53:43.our universities and that is one of our strengths as an economy. In
:53:44. > :53:47.November, the Secretary of State called energy companies into his
:53:48. > :53:50.department to put pressure on them regarding claims they were
:53:51. > :53:54.generating excess profits. This morning at the select committee,
:53:55. > :53:58.Which? told us energy companies were dismal when it came to customer
:53:59. > :54:01.service and prices, does he agree with that assessment from Which? and
:54:02. > :54:07.would he outlined to the House what progress has been made to get a
:54:08. > :54:12.better deal for energy customers? Yes, he raises an important point.
:54:13. > :54:18.The CMA report identified a huge amount of betterment that consumers
:54:19. > :54:21.were facing -- detriment. There has been some limited response from the
:54:22. > :54:27.energy companies. They have deleted some of their more abusive tariffs
:54:28. > :54:35.but there is further to go and we will be making our response to the
:54:36. > :54:38.CMA report in the days ahead. It has been recently announced that the
:54:39. > :54:43.strategy for the Midlands will be announced soon. The Midlands engine
:54:44. > :54:47.is vital for the business in Derby and the Midlands and can I urge the
:54:48. > :54:53.Secretary of State to consider it sooner rather than later? The
:54:54. > :54:57.Midlands engine is a very important part of the strengthening of the
:54:58. > :55:02.economy. There is real momentum there and she will look forward, I
:55:03. > :55:08.am sure, to some very important announcements that will be made
:55:09. > :55:11.imminently. Last week, the Minister said there have been clearly
:55:12. > :55:17.instances in which the code has been planted and the membership should
:55:18. > :55:22.bring things to her attention. I have a case in her constituency. It
:55:23. > :55:27.also shows the adjudicator is not doing his job. Can we discuss this?
:55:28. > :55:33.I am very happy to discuss the case in my constituency with the right
:55:34. > :55:38.honourable gentleman but the pub code adjudicator is doing a good
:55:39. > :55:44.job, his line of inquiry has received 435 inquiries to date and
:55:45. > :55:51.121 referrals for arbitration. But I will discuss the problem with the
:55:52. > :55:55.honourable gentleman. Thank you. The industrial strategy makes it clear
:55:56. > :56:00.that future rounds of infrastructure investment will take into account
:56:01. > :56:04.the balance of spending per head between different regions and stop
:56:05. > :56:07.on the basis there is a 60% in balance between London and the rest
:56:08. > :56:12.of the country at the moment, what balance with the Secretary of State
:56:13. > :56:16.like to see going ahead? His contribution to the consultation, we
:56:17. > :56:20.are very clear that we need to see infrastructure investment in all
:56:21. > :56:23.parts of the country, it is one of the reasons we have created
:56:24. > :56:31.institutions like transport for the North to be able to take those
:56:32. > :56:37.decisions locally. The Government's industrial strategy has sector deals
:56:38. > :56:42.for a number of sectors which is welcome but given the vital
:56:43. > :56:46.crosscutting foundation nature of the steel industry, with the
:56:47. > :56:51.minister now commit to a sector deals for the steel industry? I can
:56:52. > :56:54.say I have already been having discussions with the steel industry
:56:55. > :57:04.with precisely that purpose in mind. Order. We come now to the ten minute
:57:05. > :57:09.rule motion and the honourable lady will be pleased she has such
:57:10. > :57:18.uninterested, large and expectant audience. Ten minute rule motion.
:57:19. > :57:21.Thank you. I beg to move that leave be given to bring in a Bill to make
:57:22. > :57:26.provision to prohibit the term honour crimes in all official
:57:27. > :57:32.publications, to extend extra territory jurisdiction in certain
:57:33. > :57:34.circumstances crimes committed against UK citizens and to make
:57:35. > :57:35.provision for the