:00:00. > :00:00.the day, at 11 o'clock tonight. First we have questions from the
:00:00. > :00:14.business, energy and industrial strategy secretary Greg Clark and
:00:15. > :00:21.his team of ministers. Questions on energy strategy. Question one Mr
:00:22. > :00:27.Speaker. Mr Nick Hurd. I will ask this question with Foran 14. Between
:00:28. > :00:33.1990 and 2015 hour missions have fallen over a third while our
:00:34. > :00:39.economy has grown over 60%, since 2010 policy has contributed to the
:00:40. > :00:47.state-run bling of renewable electricity capacity. I thank the
:00:48. > :00:50.Minister for his answer, businesses and Scottish renewables sector
:00:51. > :00:55.predict that one in six jobs are at risk in the next six months due to
:00:56. > :00:59.changes in government support. Will the government take action now to
:01:00. > :01:04.make sure that we grasp the opportunities that our fantastic
:01:05. > :01:09.energy resources provide. Few countries certainly in Europe done
:01:10. > :01:16.more to expand renewable energy and electricity capacity since 2010, and
:01:17. > :01:21.the economy sector now employs over 220,000 people. She's questioning
:01:22. > :01:26.our continuing commitment to renewable energy, I refer her to the
:01:27. > :01:31.public commitment to the forthcoming thing to secure less renewable --
:01:32. > :01:39.assessment your renewable technologies. This report, and
:01:40. > :01:45.another one on North American biomass both concluded that the use
:01:46. > :01:50.of these pellets, are high carbon. Given that, there was a review
:01:51. > :01:54.promised in 2012, will the government conduct an urgent review,
:01:55. > :02:03.a moratorium on new subsidies for biomass. As the honourable gentleman
:02:04. > :02:06.knows, we have reviewed and adjusted this in relation to biomass and we
:02:07. > :02:12.will keep that under regular reviews. Thank you Mr Speaker given
:02:13. > :02:16.that Scotland's renewable energy will be cheaper than that produced
:02:17. > :02:20.at Hinkley Point by the time it is complete and Brexit is already
:02:21. > :02:25.pushing out build cost in an environment where the UK Government
:02:26. > :02:30.has unilaterally decided to abandon the protection of Europe Tom. Will
:02:31. > :02:38.we scrap the costly nuclear accession instead replace it with
:02:39. > :02:46.nuclear. You bless me with powers I'd date possess. Previous
:02:47. > :02:51.governments, neglected the power infrastructure, this is a challenge
:02:52. > :02:55.that the government is gripping. As I said before, few countries have
:02:56. > :02:59.done more to make the transition to cleaner energy, a trebling of
:03:00. > :03:03.capacity in terms of renewable electricity and the commitment to
:03:04. > :03:09.Hinkley Point offers are so potential, 7% of the electricity,
:03:10. > :03:16.low carbon -based power. Colleagues in both houses have signed an
:03:17. > :03:21.offshore blade, on the Isle of Wight. While also arranging a
:03:22. > :03:26.schools outreach programme. With my right honourable friend agree that
:03:27. > :03:29.this sort of initiative raises awareness of how low-carbon
:03:30. > :03:34.renewable energy technology can insure, that the UK reaches its
:03:35. > :03:42.potential of exporting its first-class engineering and advanced
:03:43. > :03:47.manufacturing worldwide? I thank my honourable friend and I wholly
:03:48. > :03:50.endorse what he is saying, and the Secretary of State and myself saw
:03:51. > :03:56.first visiting this new Siemens offshore wind blade turbine factory
:03:57. > :04:00.in Hull, just what this technology and engineering can do to inspire
:04:01. > :04:06.particularly young people in the area about opportunities for
:04:07. > :04:10.employment in this exciting sector. Layla nuclear power is an important
:04:11. > :04:19.part of the transition to a low carbon economy, can the minister
:04:20. > :04:25.update us on the small reactor competition. Can I welcome the
:04:26. > :04:31.ladies election to the select committee. She is right, any
:04:32. > :04:38.innovation is critical to our future ability to reducing the cost of geek
:04:39. > :04:42.organisation. To unlocking, the opportunity, so we are reviewing our
:04:43. > :04:46.plans, I feel I can say that the nuclear industry is a very important
:04:47. > :04:51.part of those plans and I hope we will have something to say shortly.
:04:52. > :04:56.In the south-west we don't share the SNP's negative view on the Hinkley
:04:57. > :04:59.Point power station project. Will he reassure me about what work the
:05:00. > :05:07.government is doing to ensure that the young people have the skills to
:05:08. > :05:09.take the jobs in these industries? I thank my honourable friend for
:05:10. > :05:13.correcting the impression that investment in new jobs in the
:05:14. > :05:19.nuclear industry is somehow bad news given the commitment that 75% of the
:05:20. > :05:24.content of Hinkley Point should be supplied from this country. But just
:05:25. > :05:27.as important is the contribution it makes to upgrading the power
:05:28. > :05:32.infrastructure to make sure that the country has the ability to access
:05:33. > :05:37.reliable low-carbon stuff in the future. Last week the budget failed
:05:38. > :05:41.to stop the 800% rise in business rates for companies that installed
:05:42. > :05:44.solar panels, this week research published in the journal nature
:05:45. > :05:49.energy says that to achieve our targets in the Paris agreement, we
:05:50. > :05:54.need to set out longer-term plans beyond 2050, the government has now
:05:55. > :05:57.dithered for five years and still refuses to publish its own
:05:58. > :06:01.implementation plan, even up to 2030. How does the minister proposed
:06:02. > :06:06.to increase the low-carbon exports when he can't even set out how we
:06:07. > :06:12.will achieve the medium-term targets. The honourable gentleman
:06:13. > :06:17.accuses us of dithering, if you see is the performance on emissions, one
:06:18. > :06:21.of the most successful, since 1990. He talks about delaying the
:06:22. > :06:25.emissions, and also, the fifth carbon budget was only set last
:06:26. > :06:29.July. This country and this government has a very proud record
:06:30. > :06:35.in terms of proving that we can reduce emissions while growing the
:06:36. > :06:39.economy. The 30 large wind turbines in Kettering Borough, is becoming
:06:40. > :06:43.very close to generating more green electricity than it consumes. But
:06:44. > :06:48.what incentives are there in the business rate system, the planning
:06:49. > :06:55.system, to award housing developments and business start-ups
:06:56. > :06:58.that are low-carbon? I thank my honourable friend for pointing out
:06:59. > :07:03.how much progress we are making at the local level as well as the
:07:04. > :07:06.national level in terms of the transition. That has been
:07:07. > :07:11.facilitated by a series of substantial investment, through
:07:12. > :07:14.public subsidies, and we review now, as we look to encourage the
:07:15. > :07:20.deployment of renewable energy through competitive markets, what
:07:21. > :07:26.else we can do through the tools of government to facilitate that. Our
:07:27. > :07:29.concern on Hinkley Point is that the government appears to be stacking
:07:30. > :07:35.the deck in favour of nuclear power over much cheaper renewable energy.
:07:36. > :07:44.The strike price for Hinckley was 92.5 in 2012 compare to a much lower
:07:45. > :07:50.82.54 offshore wind in 2015. Yet when looking in the value for money
:07:51. > :07:55.assessment, the government assumes a 90 strike price for renewables, they
:07:56. > :07:58.inflating the pricing pass on to Hinckley? I hope the honourable
:07:59. > :08:03.gentleman doesn't want to give the wrong impression, he knows with his
:08:04. > :08:08.expense that one of the keys to successful energy policies died
:08:09. > :08:12.averse to supply. That is the key of energy security. And ensuring that
:08:13. > :08:17.diversity of supply is what we are trying to do as a government. The
:08:18. > :08:22.Minister has completely missed the point about the comparison and they
:08:23. > :08:28.commission frontier economic to look at the whole impact of electricity
:08:29. > :08:31.generation models. Despite repeated Parliamentary questions, that report
:08:32. > :08:36.has not been published. Mr Speaker if the government has nothing to
:08:37. > :08:40.hide, why are they hiding things? I'm not aware of hiding anything,
:08:41. > :08:45.I'm making a point of the diverse energy supply. One of the most
:08:46. > :08:50.encouraging things is the progress that we have made in terms of policy
:08:51. > :08:54.structure to drive greater competition, to get better prices
:08:55. > :08:57.for consumers and the taxpayer from the public subsidies available, and
:08:58. > :09:04.I hope that will be evident very soon in the results of the
:09:05. > :09:07.forthcoming auctions. We are committed to making the UK the
:09:08. > :09:12.global go to nation for scientists, in orators and tech investors, and
:09:13. > :09:15.that is why as part of the industrial strategy, we will
:09:16. > :09:18.announce the increase of ?4.7 billion in public are indeed funds,
:09:19. > :09:25.the biggest increase in site support for 40 years. I welcome the
:09:26. > :09:29.government 's recent 40 million investment, and development in space
:09:30. > :09:32.technology including the university led National space Park. Could the
:09:33. > :09:35.minister tell a house what further steps you can take to encourage the
:09:36. > :09:42.space industrial cluster in the Midlands? The space industry has an
:09:43. > :09:44.important role to play in driving growth across the UK and the
:09:45. > :09:48.government is working closely with the centre to make this a reality.
:09:49. > :09:54.I'm pleased that Leicestershire is grasping this. The satellite
:09:55. > :09:58.applications catapult has funded a centre of excellence, focused on
:09:59. > :10:02.linking industry to local and national expertise, in addition, the
:10:03. > :10:04.UK space agency is supporting business incubators in Leicester,
:10:05. > :10:13.Nottingham and Loughborough to develop innovative start-ups. The
:10:14. > :10:17.page 98 of the government industrial strategy talks about the importance
:10:18. > :10:20.of long-term institutions and many of those who work in science and
:10:21. > :10:23.industry in Wirral and elsewhere feel that the single market is a
:10:24. > :10:27.long-term is that you should that has served them well. Can I ask the
:10:28. > :10:30.Minister whether he has asked the Prime Minister to change course and
:10:31. > :10:37.keep our country in the single market. The UK is indeed a
:10:38. > :10:40.powerhouse for academic research and collaborations with institutions in
:10:41. > :10:44.Europe and around the world are an important part of that success. We
:10:45. > :10:47.want through the industrial strategy to continue to play to a great
:10:48. > :10:51.strengths as a science and research powerhouse and we will continue to
:10:52. > :10:54.welcome agreement to collaborate with our European partners on major
:10:55. > :11:01.science and technology programmes in years to come. Agri- science is
:11:02. > :11:06.playing a vital part in this industrial strategy but more can be
:11:07. > :11:09.done. Is the minister whereof the excellent work, of a constituency
:11:10. > :11:15.which is exporting it all over the world?
:11:16. > :11:19.I am indeed aware of the excellent work that is undertaken by that
:11:20. > :11:23.institution and the honourable members in my honourable friend's
:11:24. > :11:31.constituency. Considerable source port is being received through our
:11:32. > :11:34.investment in R The European medicines agency, a European
:11:35. > :11:39.institution based in the UK, is one of the reasons why our farming
:11:40. > :11:44.industry is so successful -- pharmaceutical industry is so
:11:45. > :11:46.successful. When we crash out of the EU, what will happen to that
:11:47. > :11:50.organisation and what is the science Mr doing to make sure we have
:11:51. > :11:57.effective regulations which support our pharmacology and history? She
:11:58. > :12:01.should wait until we have embarked upon the negotiations our future
:12:02. > :12:05.relationship with European funding streams and we will anticipate
:12:06. > :12:09.continuing to collaborate closely with our European partners so that
:12:10. > :12:22.our scientists can develop institutions such as the one she
:12:23. > :12:25.mentions. Bill yesterday I talked about science technology business
:12:26. > :12:29.which is on the British Chamber of Commerce business of the year and
:12:30. > :12:36.export business of the year. Can my right honourable friend join me in
:12:37. > :12:40.congratulating that business for championing and promoting the best
:12:41. > :12:44.of British science and research? I'm delighted to be able to congratulate
:12:45. > :12:48.them and it is companies like those that are really doing well at
:12:49. > :12:53.exploiting the research undertaken to the benefit of this country,
:12:54. > :12:57.maximising commercial opportunities from the significant public
:12:58. > :13:00.investment we are putting into R and D. Looking beyond the two-year
:13:01. > :13:07.period when we exit the EU, wilderness to ensure that liaison
:13:08. > :13:10.with the devolved institutions will be restored before then, so that
:13:11. > :13:14.excellent facilities like the science centres in Belfast and
:13:15. > :13:20.Londonderry can be availed of an replicated right across the UK to
:13:21. > :13:26.ensure we get the maximum advantage? Through the creation of UK research
:13:27. > :13:30.and innovation, which is a UK wide global funding and research agency,
:13:31. > :13:33.we will continue to ensure that excellent science and research is
:13:34. > :13:44.supported throughout the UK in years to come. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The
:13:45. > :13:49.oil and gas sector is very important for the UK economy, energy security
:13:50. > :13:51.and jobs. That's why over the past two years the Government has
:13:52. > :13:55.established the oil and gas authority as a strong independent
:13:56. > :13:59.regulator and provided a ?2.3 billion package of support to
:14:00. > :14:03.encourage investment and exploration in the UK. In the spring budget last
:14:04. > :14:08.week, the Chancellor and as the government will consider how tax can
:14:09. > :14:13.be used to assist sales of oil and gas assets in the North Sea, helping
:14:14. > :14:20.to keep unproductive the longer. Does this government stand by
:14:21. > :14:23.comments made by the Scottish Conservatives energy spokesman
:14:24. > :14:27.Alexander Burnett and must be that the oil and gas industry does not
:14:28. > :14:32.need any help, saying people in Aberdeen are not asking for any more
:14:33. > :14:35.at the moment? I'm not sure I entirely caught the remarks he
:14:36. > :14:42.mentions but the Government has been very clear in its support not just
:14:43. > :14:47.for the UK continental shelf and the companies on it but in support for
:14:48. > :14:53.Aberdeen through the ?250 million city deal we have announced. Is my
:14:54. > :15:00.honourable friend aware that at this very moment crude oil is trading at
:15:01. > :15:05.$48.31 per barrel? As he read the report by the OECD which says that
:15:06. > :15:11.because of this and many other structural factors, an independent
:15:12. > :15:19.Scotland would have a worse debt per population ratio than even Greece?
:15:20. > :15:23.I'm sure my colleague will understand that I'm not going to
:15:24. > :15:28.comment on the specific economic issues he raises. What I would say,
:15:29. > :15:32.however, and I admire him for his spot awareness of the oil spot
:15:33. > :15:38.price, is that we as a government have managed to engineer a
:15:39. > :15:44.significant fall in oil and gas supply costs on the continental
:15:45. > :15:50.shelf. Order! Mr Boswell, a cerebral minister is at the box responding to
:15:51. > :15:52.a pertinent inquiry and the honourable gentleman is very and
:15:53. > :15:58.characteristically behaving in a mildly boorish fashion. But I'm sure
:15:59. > :16:02.it is an exceptional case. -- uncharacteristically. I'm not sure
:16:03. > :16:06.anyone can recover from the accusation of being cerebral! Let me
:16:07. > :16:11.just say that the way the oil and gas authority has lowered costs is
:16:12. > :16:15.itself a testimony to how competitive our economy can be in
:16:16. > :16:26.oil and gas, even where oil and gas prices are falling. Thank you very
:16:27. > :16:30.much indeed. The UK space sector is world leading. A quarter of the
:16:31. > :16:34.world's telecommunication satellites are either built here all with key
:16:35. > :16:38.UK components. Our recently announced space flight bill will now
:16:39. > :16:43.UK businesses tend a global market with an expected ?25 billion over
:16:44. > :16:46.the next 20 years and our industrial strategy will ensure we build on
:16:47. > :16:51.this and continue to be a global leader in this important sector.
:16:52. > :16:54.Many people think my constituency, North Swindon, is out of this world
:16:55. > :17:00.and they are not wrong as we are home to the UK space agency. Will
:17:01. > :17:03.they tell me how the upcoming space bill will enable the UK to build on
:17:04. > :17:12.our strengths in science, research and innovation? It has a stellar
:17:13. > :17:17.member of Parliament, as well! It is one of our most important industries
:17:18. > :17:20.and the space flight bill in particular will move us forward and
:17:21. > :17:26.enable us to be in the business not only of manufacturing satellites but
:17:27. > :17:28.launching them, which gives us further industrial opportunities
:17:29. > :17:37.that I know not just Swindon but the whole of the UK can benefit from.
:17:38. > :17:39.A collaborative approach of the UK aerospace sector is one of the
:17:40. > :17:46.lessons that this Government needs to remember in the difficult years
:17:47. > :17:50.that are moving ahead. Will the Secretary of State please come to
:17:51. > :17:55.one of the most important aerospace sectors in the country, North East
:17:56. > :17:59.Wales, see the excellent work that is being carried forward and the
:18:00. > :18:02.potential threats that now exist to one of the most successful
:18:03. > :18:07.industries in our country? I'm grateful to him for his point
:18:08. > :18:12.and he is right that one of the reasons that the space and satellite
:18:13. > :18:16.sector has been so successful is the collaboration between firms there
:18:17. > :18:21.and government and research institutions. That is very much the
:18:22. > :18:25.way forward and my honourable friend the Parliamentary undersecretary is
:18:26. > :18:27.going to visit North Wales and the facilities he mentions and I look
:18:28. > :18:34.forward to hearing from him all about it. Somebody who has
:18:35. > :18:37.calculated inertia matrices, I'm very pleased that the government has
:18:38. > :18:42.a focus on this area. Can he tell me what assessment he has made for the
:18:43. > :18:46.capacity for the UK commercial space flight sector and what steps he is
:18:47. > :18:51.going to take to supported? I'm glad he is not questioning me on inertia
:18:52. > :18:55.ratios and matrices! The capacity is there but it requires planning
:18:56. > :18:59.ahead, which is why the industrial strategy mentions the need to invest
:19:00. > :19:04.in science and research and development - very important that we
:19:05. > :19:09.should do that and that we should look forward to make sure we have
:19:10. > :19:13.the skills that can fulfil the order books. That is the purpose of having
:19:14. > :19:24.a long-term industrial strategy, so we are prepared to reach those
:19:25. > :19:28.opportunities. -- reap. With a mission, I'll answer this
:19:29. > :19:31.together with number nine. Small businesses are vital to the economy
:19:32. > :19:35.and we are providing additional access to finance and support to
:19:36. > :19:39.help scale businesses to enable them to reap the benefits from future
:19:40. > :19:50.trade with the EU and the rest of the world. Can I start by wishing
:19:51. > :19:58.everybody a happy parade day -- Pi day. The UK government failed to
:19:59. > :20:03.consult the business community on the changes to national insurance
:20:04. > :20:05.for the self-employed. Will the government now tackle the ongoing
:20:06. > :20:11.uncertainty that these changes could bring to work as' rights, such as
:20:12. > :20:17.maternity, paternity pay, sick pay, annual leave and pensions? The
:20:18. > :20:21.Government is absolutely committed, as the Prime Minister has said on
:20:22. > :20:24.several occasions, to protect workers' rights as we leave the
:20:25. > :20:29.European Union and not just to protect them but also to enhance
:20:30. > :20:39.them if necessary, and she has set up a review to examine the details.
:20:40. > :20:41.I'm sad to note the absence, rather uncharacteristic, the honourable
:20:42. > :20:48.gentleman but we will do our best to bear up with such fortitude as we
:20:49. > :20:51.can muster. In the oil and gas sector, there are a number of small
:20:52. > :20:55.businesses in the supply chain that have been hit disproportionately by
:20:56. > :20:59.the oil price reduction. Myself and the honourable member for Aberdeen
:21:00. > :21:03.South held a meeting last week to encourage members to access
:21:04. > :21:07.different methods of capital finance to grow. What is the UK government
:21:08. > :21:13.doing to encourage these businesses to access capital finance? Although
:21:14. > :21:18.support for business in Scotland is largely devolved, the British
:21:19. > :21:25.business bank does fund a vast number of companies in Scotland.
:21:26. > :21:30.?415 million of finance for Scottish companies, including the start-up
:21:31. > :21:40.loan, and over 1600 companies in Scotland benefit from the enterprise
:21:41. > :21:44.Finance guarantee scheme. SMEs are the backbone of the south-west and
:21:45. > :21:49.much effort is being put into upping productivity in the region and in
:21:50. > :21:51.Taunton Deane, we recognise the recent government investment in
:21:52. > :21:56.infrastructure and the work being done on skills but to give us a real
:21:57. > :22:00.Filipe, would my right horrible friend agreed to come, or perhaps
:22:01. > :22:05.someone from the department, to the Taunton annual business partners
:22:06. > :22:10.conference on the 16th of June to boost the idea is that this
:22:11. > :22:13.government can help us with? I thank my honourable friend for such a
:22:14. > :22:18.wonderful invitation and although I have already been to the south-west,
:22:19. > :22:25.I'm sure I can find an occasion on June six to do so again.
:22:26. > :22:31.The honourable lady looks as though her cup has run of over. What a
:22:32. > :22:39.happy day for the honourable lady and, indeed, for Taunton Deane, not
:22:40. > :22:46.to mention the Minister. Thank you, Mr Speaker. One advantage for small
:22:47. > :22:55.businesses of the United Kingdom leaving the EU is that this House
:22:56. > :23:02.will be free to be able to repeal unwanted EU regulations. Can the
:23:03. > :23:05.ministers say what steps she is taking to consult with small
:23:06. > :23:13.businesses to be able to identify those regulations quite well
:23:14. > :23:17.I can assure him we consult small businesses all the time and the
:23:18. > :23:19.department for exiting the EU engages regularly with the
:23:20. > :23:22.Federation of Small Businesses and we will be asking that department to
:23:23. > :23:24.hold a round table for small businesses to discuss the very
:23:25. > :23:44.issues he raises in due course. And the honourable member is so keen
:23:45. > :23:50.to hear my to this question. -- I'm glad. We support small businesses by
:23:51. > :23:55.ensuring they can access wider support. The British business bank
:23:56. > :23:59.are already supporting with 3.4 billion finance over 54,000 small
:24:00. > :24:04.businesses and I am leading a task force to enable SMEs to accelerate
:24:05. > :24:10.their growth potential and realise their growth prospects. From my own
:24:11. > :24:15.experience I know that rugby is a great place to run a business,
:24:16. > :24:18.however many small businesses continued to tell me that an
:24:19. > :24:22.obstacle to their expanding remains a shortage of suitable industrial
:24:23. > :24:25.premises so at a time when our local authority is preparing its local
:24:26. > :24:30.plan, I wonder what discussions my honourable friend has had with
:24:31. > :24:36.counterparts at DCLG to ensure adequate land is allocated for the
:24:37. > :24:40.development of businesses. In answer to my honourable friend, we work
:24:41. > :24:42.closely with the department for Communities and Local Government and
:24:43. > :24:48.I weaselly co-chaired a successful round table with the Minister of
:24:49. > :24:51.state for Mr and planning. -- recently co-chaired. We will be
:24:52. > :24:59.having a further meeting and I will take into consideration the needs of
:25:00. > :25:03.businesses in rugby for more space. Small businesses in Doncaster have
:25:04. > :25:09.expressed concern to me about how to access apprenticeships. Will
:25:10. > :25:15.minister work with the DfEE and draw a regional analysis, especially in
:25:16. > :25:19.Yorkshire and the Humber, of how small businesses can find effective
:25:20. > :25:24.ways to access those schemes, especially in the light of the
:25:25. > :25:27.apprenticeship Levy? We will certainly talk to businesses in the
:25:28. > :25:34.Doncaster region, as elsewhere in the Yorkshire area, but I'm
:25:35. > :25:37.delighted to say that only 1.3% businesses will actually pay the
:25:38. > :25:41.apprenticeship Levy and for all other businesses, particularly small
:25:42. > :25:45.businesses, the Government will fund 90 % of their training costs
:25:46. > :25:51.following the introduction of the Levy proper next month. Last week's
:25:52. > :25:54.business rates announcement by my right honourable friend the
:25:55. > :25:56.Chancellor will be welcome relief to hundreds of independent small
:25:57. > :26:02.businesses in my constituency. Wilderness to join me in
:26:03. > :26:05.congratulating Visit Bass as they focus more attention to marketing
:26:06. > :26:08.the domestic and international markets out of our independent small
:26:09. > :26:12.businesses, which will bring jobs and growth in our constituency? I
:26:13. > :26:17.absolutely join with my honourable friend in congratulating Visit Bath
:26:18. > :26:23.in all the trade and ideas that that organisation brings to local SMEs.
:26:24. > :26:31.Many thanks Mr Speaker as chair of the disability all Parliamentary
:26:32. > :26:37.group, I have been hearing from people, saying that there are stark
:26:38. > :26:41.far too many barriers. This includes information even that on government
:26:42. > :26:45.Gateway that is accessible. So what specific measures are the government
:26:46. > :26:48.taking to support disabled entrepreneurs and what more can be
:26:49. > :26:54.done to address these very important issues. I thank durable lady for her
:26:55. > :27:00.excellent question, I do work closely for the Minister of people
:27:01. > :27:04.with disabilities and she is leading huge initiatives, to improve
:27:05. > :27:08.opportunities for people with disabilities and I will raise the
:27:09. > :27:14.specific question of entrepreneurs with disabilities with her. The
:27:15. > :27:19.truth is that the government has got to show a lot more love for small
:27:20. > :27:23.businesses. To reinforce the truth that the concerned parties the party
:27:24. > :27:29.from the printer is. Can my honourable friend the Minister start
:27:30. > :27:33.that, by eliminating the time limits on DIS investment on small
:27:34. > :27:38.businesses and finding a way, after we leave the EU that compliance with
:27:39. > :27:44.regulations for small businesses can be produced to a single checkmark --
:27:45. > :27:48.IES investment. I thank the honourable friend, as he knows I'm a
:27:49. > :27:53.great lover of small businesses, and entrepreneurs. I think that I can
:27:54. > :27:58.speak for the rest of the government in that, he knows that the EU
:27:59. > :28:02.governs those time limits and caps on DIS schemes at the moment and
:28:03. > :28:09.what happens post-Brexit negotiations will be a matter for
:28:10. > :28:11.the Treasury. Thank you, to speed don't think small businesses are
:28:12. > :28:16.really feeling the love after the budget week. The Federation of small
:28:17. > :28:23.business produced a report entitled 37 problems and tax is one. They
:28:24. > :28:26.said that the proposed national insurance tax grab is an absolute
:28:27. > :28:29.kick in the teeth for small business, just at a time that we
:28:30. > :28:36.need to create more entrepreneurs, not fewer. When the Minster said the
:28:37. > :28:40.government consults the Federation of small business, perhaps in the
:28:41. > :28:44.future they might listen to them and do what they suggest. Well I think
:28:45. > :28:48.that the small business world feels more love from this side of a house
:28:49. > :28:53.than they would from the opposition, were they to take our place in
:28:54. > :28:57.government. But on the specific question that he raises, the FSB I
:28:58. > :29:01.know lobbied hard on a number of points on national insurance, on
:29:02. > :29:09.also on business rates. And on quarterly reporting of tax accounts.
:29:10. > :29:14.On the latter two, they were very pleased with the outcome that the
:29:15. > :29:19.Chancellor provided and with regard to national insurance, he knows that
:29:20. > :29:22.over 60% of people, who are self-employed, will actually benefit
:29:23. > :29:33.from the changes that were mooted by the Chancellor last week. Chris
:29:34. > :29:36.Green. Thank you, as a matter of fact Mr Speaker just yesterday I was
:29:37. > :29:41.a few miles away from the gentleman 's constituency in Carrington,
:29:42. > :29:46.opening a new combined cycle gas turbine plant. And if you weeks
:29:47. > :29:49.before that I was in Folkestone for the new interconnect is being built
:29:50. > :29:53.through the Channel Tunnel. What these remind us of is the government
:29:54. > :29:59.'s commitment to the UK energy infrastructure underscored by a
:30:00. > :30:05.capacity market and contracts for difference. We are also investing
:30:06. > :30:07.?320 million in new seat in the structure, and I think that
:30:08. > :30:14.undergirds the size of the whole thing. The bases and G supplier is
:30:15. > :30:18.fundamental to live ring the energy needs, since some do not provide
:30:19. > :30:21.baseload and there is pressure not to increase the consumption of
:30:22. > :30:26.hydrocarbons, does my right honourable friend agree with me that
:30:27. > :30:29.in the absence of energy storage capacity, future investment must go
:30:30. > :30:37.to the nuclear industry, perhaps small modular reactors. As he will
:30:38. > :30:42.know, we are spending a great deal of time working on developers with
:30:43. > :30:45.new investment alongside the plans already being executed at Hinkley
:30:46. > :30:49.Point. Small modular reactors are potentially part of that
:30:50. > :30:53.conversation. It is worth saying that the likelihood, there are many
:30:54. > :30:57.outcomes of possible technologies of which storage will come on stream
:30:58. > :31:03.over the next decade or two, that will also undoubtedly be part of the
:31:04. > :31:06.picture. The country needs 21st-century systems like smart
:31:07. > :31:09.metering, can the minister update the house on the progress of the
:31:10. > :31:14.roll-out and Cani have a word with the energy companies to stop them
:31:15. > :31:19.blaming this government for being part of a height in energy prices
:31:20. > :31:22.that is ripping off the consumer. We are in no doubt at all about the
:31:23. > :31:28.need for the energy companies to bear down on prices and as they will
:31:29. > :31:34.be aware, the cost of those policies are a relatively small part of it.
:31:35. > :31:36.Tidal energy gives the UK an opportunity to find clean
:31:37. > :31:40.predictable sources of renewable energy. It is a sector where we have
:31:41. > :31:46.world leading businesses. Will my right honourable friend consider
:31:47. > :31:51.giving tidal a higher priorities so that we can maintain our competitive
:31:52. > :31:54.edge? The honourable lady will know that we are looking at tidal energy
:31:55. > :32:03.and related issues closely in the context of our consideration of the
:32:04. > :32:09.review. Doctor John Pugh? When a final decision will be made on the
:32:10. > :32:14.Swansea tidal thing? I think it is fair to say that we will be coming
:32:15. > :32:20.to the house as soon as we can for the matter is presently under
:32:21. > :32:23.consideration. The minister mentioned is the capacity market and
:32:24. > :32:28.I'm sure he will agree with me that the prime purpose of that market has
:32:29. > :32:32.been to procure new infrastructure capacity. Can the Minister tell me
:32:33. > :32:37.how many new gas-fired power stations had been procured by ?3.4
:32:38. > :32:41.billion that has been spent so far on the capacity market and what
:32:42. > :32:45.plans does he have to improve that number, and to be helpful the answer
:32:46. > :32:56.is one new power plant in King's Lynn. I'm all in favour of the self
:32:57. > :33:01.answering question, Mr Speaker. Might I just remind you that the
:33:02. > :33:07.last capacity market, procured energy at a cost of ?7 per kilowatt
:33:08. > :33:16.hour which I think is cheaper than any possible conceivable
:33:17. > :33:19.alternative. With no common definition of the gig economy,
:33:20. > :33:22.numbers vary in terms of how many workers are involved in it so we
:33:23. > :33:26.have commissioned new research that will be published this summer and it
:33:27. > :33:29.will look at the number of individuals working through digital
:33:30. > :33:35.platforms in the UK and their experiences. The number of
:33:36. > :33:41.freelancing mums has increased by 79% since 2008, whilst I remember,
:33:42. > :33:46.the government 's announcement, on fairer maternity pay, this was
:33:47. > :33:49.recommended 13 months ago, why is it taking the government so long to act
:33:50. > :33:57.on this crucial issue for these women when it took a stroke of a pen
:33:58. > :34:01.to increase their taxes? Well as I said in my previous answers, the
:34:02. > :34:09.increase in taxes under review, will be ruling out in terms of the
:34:10. > :34:17.maternity and paternity issues that she raises I should hasten to add.
:34:18. > :34:25.And, that consultation will run its course this summer, and she will
:34:26. > :34:28.have an answer the end of the year. Mr Speaker does the Minister begin
:34:29. > :34:34.to understand the sense of grievance on the part of the growing army of
:34:35. > :34:39.the self-employed, who are reluctant conscripts to self-employment in the
:34:40. > :34:43.gig economy, that they work in a twilight world of insecurity without
:34:44. > :34:48.basic rights, are now having to pay more in tax, when there was not one
:34:49. > :34:51.measure in the budget that put the burden on the shoulders of those
:34:52. > :35:00.truly responsible, the goobers of this world. The right honourable
:35:01. > :35:02.gentleman knows that we have in place the Taylor review that is
:35:03. > :35:11.currently examining all of the issues that he raises, I'm very
:35:12. > :35:15.concerned about the plight of some low paid workers who may be workers
:35:16. > :35:18.rather than self-employed and valleys up to the courts and the
:35:19. > :35:21.government to conclude later this year but I can assure him that we to
:35:22. > :35:28.take the issues that he raises very seriously. Thank you Mr Speaker
:35:29. > :35:32.thank you very much indeed, with your permission Mr Speaker, I'd like
:35:33. > :35:35.to answer this question together with question 14. Last week we
:35:36. > :35:43.published the Midlands engine strategy. It is further
:35:44. > :35:49.demonstration that this government is committed to investing in the
:35:50. > :35:56.Midlands, a region that has seen over 180,000 more people in
:35:57. > :36:00.employment since 2010. I thank the Minister for his reply. Increasing
:36:01. > :36:03.investment, inward investment from businesses in the automotive supply
:36:04. > :36:09.chain, such as Polytech and Magna Carta bringing Weald jobs and growth
:36:10. > :36:14.to it. Does the Minister agree that Telford is set to play a key role in
:36:15. > :36:16.the engine strategy with its reputation for innovation and
:36:17. > :36:19.advanced manufacturing and will he congratulate these businesses on
:36:20. > :36:23.helping to build a successful business future for Telford? My
:36:24. > :36:29.honourable friend's constituency of Telford which includes Coalbrookdale
:36:30. > :36:41.has a good claim to be the cradle of the first Industrial Revolution. It
:36:42. > :36:44.has a good claim, it is disputed. I think Derby is fairly early. Now it
:36:45. > :36:50.is at the heart of the fourth Industrial Revolution. Absolutely
:36:51. > :36:55.the T54 site is proving to be a very important location for the supply
:36:56. > :36:58.chain for the automotive sector. With the secretary of state agree
:36:59. > :37:02.with me that one of the pivotal things that is needed to be in an
:37:03. > :37:05.industrial strategy for the West Midlands is to close the skill gap
:37:06. > :37:09.which is held back in the West Midlands for too long so that areas
:37:10. > :37:14.like the Black Country can continue to work to become leading
:37:15. > :37:17.specialists in areas like aerospace, automotive, advanced manufacturing
:37:18. > :37:23.which I know are critical on the agenda of the Conservative candidate
:37:24. > :37:28.for the West Midlands now. I agree with my honourable friend, he is
:37:29. > :37:34.absolutely right, the reputation of the Black Country, is very strong.
:37:35. > :37:37.There is a phrase, made in the Black Country, sold around the world. But
:37:38. > :37:43.in order to do that you need good skills. Andy Street, being a person
:37:44. > :37:46.of great expense in business, is the best person available to bring that
:37:47. > :37:52.business acumen to bring in more businesses to the whole of the West
:37:53. > :37:57.Midlands. Hearing about an industrial strategy rather than an
:37:58. > :38:02.electoral strategy, but here you go. The Black Country is the birthplace
:38:03. > :38:06.of Industrial Revolution. Can I ask the Secretary of State in terms of
:38:07. > :38:11.transport spending, which is a key for the industrial strategy, when he
:38:12. > :38:14.expects to persuade his colleagues Secretary of State for Transport to
:38:15. > :38:19.spend as much per capita Ron the West Midlands as he does in London.
:38:20. > :38:24.The honourable gentleman who is an assiduous reader of these things,
:38:25. > :38:29.will see that in his industrial strategy, we propose a commitment,
:38:30. > :38:33.to in the structure right across the country. I hope he will respond to
:38:34. > :38:37.that, so that when we have the budget later in the year, we will be
:38:38. > :38:47.in a position to make further such announcements. Thank you Mr Speaker,
:38:48. > :38:52.can my right honourable friend of, talk about particular those in Mike
:38:53. > :38:56.assiduous of North Warwickshire. The board have a very important role to
:38:57. > :39:00.play, one of the trends that colleagues across all sides of the
:39:01. > :39:03.house will know, is that the development of supply chains, one of
:39:04. > :39:08.the key sources of innovation in many industries, and within that,
:39:09. > :39:12.start-up businesses including those by the self-employed can make a big
:39:13. > :39:20.contribution to making us attractive for jobs and new businesses. Mr
:39:21. > :39:26.Speaker, with your permission I will answer this with question 16, I
:39:27. > :39:30.think I'm right in saying. We have had great success over the years, in
:39:31. > :39:35.developing key sectors including aerospace and the automotive sector.
:39:36. > :39:38.To build on this we have set up proposals for a new business led
:39:39. > :39:42.sector deals in the dust shall strategy. The first set of deals are
:39:43. > :39:45.already under development, and we are taking steps to drive growth in
:39:46. > :39:54.sectors across the economy including with funding four sides, and
:39:55. > :39:57.education. Does the Secretary of State share my concern for the
:39:58. > :40:00.fermentation of industrial strategy will focus solely on the big
:40:01. > :40:06.players, what does he do to ensure that the SMEs in those sectors, get
:40:07. > :40:10.their FSA and their fair share? The honourable gentleman, that is not
:40:11. > :40:14.the case, I have regular discussions with the Federation of small
:40:15. > :40:18.business, with the British Chambers of commerce, and the smaller
:40:19. > :40:22.businesses right across the country. The supply chain, and making our
:40:23. > :40:29.country more attractive to supply chain businesses, is absolutely
:40:30. > :40:33.foundation to success. That is particularly in regard to the small
:40:34. > :40:37.businesses. Side security is one of the most important sectors of this
:40:38. > :40:41.growth but the UK has the highest skills gap in cyber security in the
:40:42. > :40:45.world. Does the Secretary of State think that the government 's current
:40:46. > :40:49.commitment to educate 1% of our students by 2021 in cyber security
:40:50. > :40:53.is anywhere near enough? I think the honourable lady makes a very good
:40:54. > :40:57.point, if we are to take advantage of the opportunities that are there,
:40:58. > :41:02.we need to upgrade our technical education. That is why in the budget
:41:03. > :41:07.last week the Chancellor made such a clear commitment, prominence in the
:41:08. > :41:12.industrial strategy, to transform the level of technical education
:41:13. > :41:22.including to increase by 50% the hours of tuition that are available.
:41:23. > :41:28.Thank you. I welcome a ?90 million in the budget that the Chancellor
:41:29. > :41:32.has given for PHP places. I would like to ask the Secretary of State
:41:33. > :41:36.whether he has determined how they will be distributed and whether the
:41:37. > :41:40.academically excellent area of Cambridgeshire will benefit from
:41:41. > :41:46.this funding. Yes, Mr Speaker. I would expect all competitive places
:41:47. > :41:50.to make a bid for these places and in Cambridgeshire, both the
:41:51. > :41:53.University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin and other institutions more
:41:54. > :42:02.broadly across the country will be in a good position to benefit from
:42:03. > :42:09.these. The aerospace sector is vital importance to my constituency and I
:42:10. > :42:11.was delighted to take place as a ground-breaking ceremony for
:42:12. > :42:18.Rolls-Royce on a new site. How can the government help grow the
:42:19. > :42:23.aerospace sector? It has been an important -- an important sector and
:42:24. > :42:28.our discussions this morning reflect the track record of working together
:42:29. > :42:30.and that will continue and be reinforced. I think all members
:42:31. > :42:36.across the House will have been as delighted as I was that Boeing made
:42:37. > :42:40.a commitment to their first ever UK plant in Sheffield, showing how
:42:41. > :42:48.attractive we are too advanced manufacturing businesses like that.
:42:49. > :42:53.Thank you, Mr Speaker. The select committee recent report stated that
:42:54. > :42:59.the green paper provides little clarity on how things will work in
:43:00. > :43:03.practice and that it appears to lack political will, falling short of
:43:04. > :43:06.providing a clear framework for decision-making in the long term so
:43:07. > :43:11.I ask the Secretary of State, is it lack of clarity or lack of political
:43:12. > :43:14.will that has led to a bespoke Brexit deal for certain
:43:15. > :43:21.manufacturers whilst leaving others and other industries in a state of
:43:22. > :43:28.uncertainty. Can I wrote them her to her first oral questions on this and
:43:29. > :43:31.I see her predecessor before her. She is my third opposite number in
:43:32. > :43:36.the eight months since I've had this job. The first was appointed in the
:43:37. > :43:40.summer, the second in the autumn and she was appointed in the winter. I
:43:41. > :43:43.notice this week the birds were singing and the sun was out so I
:43:44. > :43:48.hope this is not bad news for the honourable lady! In terms of apology
:43:49. > :43:53.asked about the industrial strategy, the sector deals that we have
:43:54. > :44:00.proposed have been widely welcomed. We have set out a number of initial
:44:01. > :44:03.deals in life sciences, for example, in the creative industries. We are
:44:04. > :44:06.already talking to other sectors such as the steel sector but I know
:44:07. > :44:13.a lot of colleagues in the House would want to see taken forward. Oh,
:44:14. > :44:17.the Secretary of State is cheeky! But he might want to refer to the
:44:18. > :44:20.report because it also states that the White Paper on exiting the EU
:44:21. > :44:25.failed to meaningfully referred to an industrial strategy and
:44:26. > :44:29.reinforced a lack of coordination between the Government's major
:44:30. > :44:34.challenge and its principal plank of business policy. Given that last
:44:35. > :44:37.week's budget failed to mention Brexit or industrial strategy, does
:44:38. > :44:41.the Secretary of State agree with the recent foreign affairs select
:44:42. > :44:45.committee report that the Government has provided no evidence of
:44:46. > :44:52.industrial contingency planning in the event of a no deal? If not, what
:44:53. > :44:56.is his no deal plan? She will have to do a bit better than that because
:44:57. > :44:59.I've got the budget here and she says it doesn't mention the
:45:00. > :45:04.industrial strategy but I can tell her it is mentioned in the first
:45:05. > :45:11.paragraph of the first page of the budget and throughout it. Given the
:45:12. > :45:18.honourable lady's interest in this, she ought to read the budget! I'm
:45:19. > :45:25.keen that the Northwest should play its part in the Government's
:45:26. > :45:28.industrial strategy to drive up competitiveness in our area. I would
:45:29. > :45:35.like to know how small businesses can play their part in my area. In
:45:36. > :45:38.her area, as in every area in the country, the opportunities for the
:45:39. > :45:43.supply chain to be attractive and locate in this country to supply the
:45:44. > :45:49.major manufacturers and service providers, also to the world is one
:45:50. > :46:02.of the key themes that is emerging from the sector deals that are being
:46:03. > :46:06.negotiated. Number 19, yes. Nearly ?56 billion has been invested in
:46:07. > :46:13.renewable energy since 2012. In the budget last year, my friend the
:46:14. > :46:17.honourable former Chancellor, announced investments for projects
:46:18. > :46:23.including offshore wind. The renewable heat incentive was
:46:24. > :46:27.announced at ?1.15 billion by 2021. We have heard a lot about the
:46:28. > :46:32.importance of small business this morning but there are 44,000 small
:46:33. > :46:35.businesses that have their own smaller sola Micra generators that
:46:36. > :46:40.are currently exempt from business rates but from April one they face
:46:41. > :46:44.an 800% increase in business rates. This is clearly damaging for them
:46:45. > :46:46.and the solar industry. Hopefully, it isn't deliberate so will the
:46:47. > :46:52.Minister meet with the Chancellor to see what can be done to relieve
:46:53. > :46:55.this? I'm grateful for the question. The impact of rates does differ from
:46:56. > :47:01.company to company as regards the solar panels. They have three
:47:02. > :47:07.quarters of the businesses projected to have rates that fall next year
:47:08. > :47:13.and they're is transitional rate relief. We as a department long
:47:14. > :47:23.recognise the problems in some cases she refers to. Number 24, or is it
:47:24. > :47:32.22? 23! The honourable gentleman was close on either side! I will respond
:47:33. > :47:35.shortly to the Competition and Markets Authority report and take
:47:36. > :47:40.steps to increase competition and tell consumers. If he is successful
:47:41. > :47:47.in generating much-needed competition, will we need a
:47:48. > :47:50.regulator at all? The aim of government policy must be to have
:47:51. > :47:55.such vigorous competition in markets that that takes care of itself. I
:47:56. > :47:58.don't think we are in that position so I'm determined to make sure
:47:59. > :48:08.customers are treated fairly. Topical questions. Number one, Mr
:48:09. > :48:10.Speaker. As well as continuing the consultation on our own just real
:48:11. > :48:17.strategy green paper, we are acting ice diagnosis. We set out our plan
:48:18. > :48:22.to transform technical education, increasingly our students are taught
:48:23. > :48:25.by 50%, increasing funding for technical education by 01 ?5 billion
:48:26. > :48:32.a year and new Institute of technology. We announced in the butt
:48:33. > :48:35.of the first ?270 million of projects under the industrial
:48:36. > :48:39.strategy Challenge Fund, including a world leading investment in the
:48:40. > :48:43.development, design and manufacture of batteries to power the next
:48:44. > :48:46.generation of electric vehicles and we announced ?100 million Fellowship
:48:47. > :48:53.fund to attract the world's brightest minds to come and work in
:48:54. > :48:57.the UK. I'm pleased my honourable friend is planning to visit the
:48:58. > :49:03.Astra Joker site in the UK, the largest in the UK, but can he tell
:49:04. > :49:09.us what plans there are to further support life sciences? My honourable
:49:10. > :49:14.friend, a great champion for life sciences, as well as the Treasury
:49:15. > :49:18.economy, knows that the opportunity to negotiate a sector deal for life
:49:19. > :49:22.sciences, which is being led by Sir John Bell, is going to be good for
:49:23. > :49:26.the whole country but will have particular relevance to Cheshire and
:49:27. > :49:32.to Macclesfield and I'm looking forward to visiting his constituency
:49:33. > :49:36.to see these facilities myself. Will the Secretary of State join me in
:49:37. > :49:41.congratulating the greatest evening newspaper in the country, the
:49:42. > :49:46.express and Star, and the brilliant work of Wolverhampton University,
:49:47. > :49:50.who launched a scheme which has now successfully distributed ?4 million
:49:51. > :49:56.of regional growth fund money, supporting 65 businesses, creating
:49:57. > :49:59.or protecting 600 jobs and extraordinarily generating over ?11
:50:00. > :50:05.million in private sector investment to support businesses in places like
:50:06. > :50:10.Dudley, which everybody knows is the real birthplace of the industrial
:50:11. > :50:16.revolution. I'm going to dip my toes into controversy by talking about
:50:17. > :50:19.the industrial revolution so I am not going to talk about the best
:50:20. > :50:22.local newspaper in the country. I gather that the Foreign Secretary
:50:23. > :50:27.began his illustrious career on the express and Star. I'm not sure if
:50:28. > :50:32.this shows their pre-shins or whether they have recovered from
:50:33. > :50:37.that particular judgment, but it is... Local newspapers make a vital
:50:38. > :50:40.contribution to the success of local business and I'm delighted to hear
:50:41. > :50:50.the initiative of the express and Star. My constituency of Rochester
:50:51. > :50:54.and Strood has seen 8800 apprenticeships started across many
:50:55. > :50:58.sectors and very soon I will be hosting my first apprenticeship
:50:59. > :51:01.there, bringing together local students and businesses. With the
:51:02. > :51:05.Minister outlined what steps he is taking to encourage more small
:51:06. > :51:08.businesses to engage and take on more apprentices in places like my
:51:09. > :51:17.constituency of rust just and Strood? The new phase of the get in,
:51:18. > :51:22.go far campaign focused on the benefits of apprenticeships and they
:51:23. > :51:25.support this by contacting small businesses who have previously
:51:26. > :51:32.engaged with the programme and this will be of great benefit to SMEs in
:51:33. > :51:37.their constituency. There are talks of needs to close the skills gap and
:51:38. > :51:42.invest in so, Secretary of State explain to the House on childcare
:51:43. > :51:47.isn't mentioned once? What I would say is that making ourselves
:51:48. > :51:50.attractive as a country to the workforce, making sure we are the
:51:51. > :52:00.best place to operate a business and to work as an important theme of
:52:01. > :52:08.that and I will look forward to the her contribution to the
:52:09. > :52:11.consultation. I thank him for his support for the Midlands engine. In
:52:12. > :52:16.Stafford, we build them and last week I have the honour of opening
:52:17. > :52:20.the technical training centre and large engine plant in Stafford.
:52:21. > :52:25.Would he agree with me that this shows just how important it is for
:52:26. > :52:33.businesses to be proactive in putting together the facilities for
:52:34. > :52:38.apprentices and taking on more? I quite agree with my honourable
:52:39. > :52:41.friend. It does demonstrate the need for all businesses, especially SMEs
:52:42. > :52:48.to take advantage of the 3 million apprenticeship target we have and
:52:49. > :52:53.the huge improvement in quality that is supported by the national
:52:54. > :52:58.apprenticeship service. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Given that the Brexit
:52:59. > :53:01.negotiations are about to start, can the Secretary of State to tell us
:53:02. > :53:07.whether he agrees with his right honourable friend the Prime Minister
:53:08. > :53:19.that no deal is better than a bad deal? Does my right honourable
:53:20. > :53:22.friend... Could he set out how he is intending to shape the regulatory
:53:23. > :53:26.environment as we leave the EU, including things like these
:53:27. > :53:29.allegations, to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of the
:53:30. > :53:34.technical revolution? The UK is the number one place in
:53:35. > :53:37.Europe for investment in technology and the Government's industrial
:53:38. > :53:43.strategy will deliver the prime minister's vision of Britain as a
:53:44. > :53:54.magnet for talent and home to the innovators and pioneers that will
:53:55. > :54:00.shape the future. Scotland's economy, from its thriving
:54:01. > :54:04.universities to its economic food and drink sector, relies on EU
:54:05. > :54:07.freedom of movement. How does the Minister hoped to close the skills
:54:08. > :54:10.gap and pave the way for highly skilled economy if he cannot
:54:11. > :54:16.safeguard the rights of EU nationals living here? The Government,
:54:17. > :54:21.including at the highest level, have made clear on many, many occasions
:54:22. > :54:25.that we value tremendously the important contribution that EU
:54:26. > :54:27.nationals make to the success of our higher education institutions and
:54:28. > :54:32.our scientific establishments across the country, including in Scotland,
:54:33. > :54:39.and we have every intention that continuing years ahead. When I
:54:40. > :54:42.visited the corgi steelworks on Friday, there was a real enthusiasm
:54:43. > :54:47.for a sector deal for the steel industry and a real commitment to
:54:48. > :54:49.ongoing partnership working. Would my right honourable friend the
:54:50. > :54:53.Secretary of State be willing to visit the corgi works to discuss
:54:54. > :54:57.these opportunities? I would be delighted to visit corgi with my
:54:58. > :55:02.honourable friend. He is right that my discussions with the steel
:55:03. > :55:05.industry show a real appetite to set out a long-term sector deal to
:55:06. > :55:12.secure the future of the steel industry. Given the decimation of
:55:13. > :55:14.Scotland's renewable sector and the fact Scotland has very different
:55:15. > :55:18.energy capabilities than the rest of the UK, why does this government
:55:19. > :55:22.continue to think that a one size fits all energy policy is in anyway
:55:23. > :55:28.appropriate for Scotland's very different energy capabilities? I've
:55:29. > :55:32.emphasised in earlier answers the importance of a diverse energy
:55:33. > :55:34.supply, which is at the root of energy security, and there is no
:55:35. > :55:40.question about this Government's commitment to investment in
:55:41. > :55:44.renewables. Driving forward the fourth industrial revolution in new
:55:45. > :55:50.sectors such as robotics and 3D printing, can he ensure that this
:55:51. > :55:54.sector engagement includes new challenges, not just incumbents? It
:55:55. > :55:57.certainly can't up through our industrial strategy, we are backing
:55:58. > :56:02.Britain's innovators with the biggest investment in science and
:56:03. > :56:05.ten and since 1979 and a new industrial strategy Challenge Fund
:56:06. > :56:11.to bring cutting-edge ideas out of the lab and into the wider economy.
:56:12. > :56:15.A recent resolution foundation report stated that one in three UK
:56:16. > :56:18.businesses admit to under investing over the last five years. What
:56:19. > :56:23.measures will the UK government take turn this round?
:56:24. > :56:29.Yes this country does recognise that it has been under investing in
:56:30. > :56:32.research and develop mud, that is why at the Autumn Statement and the
:56:33. > :56:38.budget we will be making the biggest investment in RND in over 40 years.
:56:39. > :56:47.Public investment in RND helps bring in money about ?1 36 for every pound
:56:48. > :56:50.of Marburg that at a big investment. Yellow mac can my right honourable
:56:51. > :56:54.friend outline what measures are included in the middle and strategy
:56:55. > :56:59.to support small businesses enterprises such as those in Cannock
:57:00. > :57:05.Chase. As the honourable lady knows through the growth deal, there is a
:57:06. > :57:07.bought through the local enterprise partnerships for small businesses
:57:08. > :57:15.both start-ups and growing businesses. Following Npower's 15%
:57:16. > :57:19.price hike last month, the government pledged that where
:57:20. > :57:23.markets are not working we are prepared to act. Given that Dion
:57:24. > :57:28.raised their prices by 14%, and SSE by 8% yesterday, and many more
:57:29. > :57:31.companies need to raise their prices until the government actually acts
:57:32. > :57:39.to stop energy customers from getting fleeced. The honourable
:57:40. > :57:42.gentleman is absolutely right, the behaviour is unacceptable, reported
:57:43. > :57:48.by Ofgem that there is no reason to increase prices. We have committed
:57:49. > :57:54.to a Green paper, on the issue. It will be published very shortly and
:57:55. > :57:58.the time is up for these companies. As the chairman for a VP for small
:57:59. > :58:02.businesses I never access to finance is a real challenge for small
:58:03. > :58:05.businesses. What advice could he give to those in my constituency who
:58:06. > :58:10.are looking to access to financing the early years? I can advise my
:58:11. > :58:16.honourable friend that the start-up loans company has already helped
:58:17. > :58:23.44,000 small start-ups, and will be on hand to support start-ups in his
:58:24. > :58:27.constituency. What plans does the Secretary of State had to encourage
:58:28. > :58:31.new innovation support for SMEs in our key foundation industries which
:58:32. > :58:36.make materials like glass, ceramics and steel for cars such as those
:58:37. > :58:40.needed, for those in my constituency. This could help create
:58:41. > :58:47.hundreds of jobs, in the supply chain that are actually made in
:58:48. > :58:52.Britain. Mr Speaker support renovation has received its biggest
:58:53. > :58:56.boost since 1979, the industrial strategy challenge fund has just
:58:57. > :58:58.seen the first allocations of ?270 million that will help boost
:58:59. > :59:10.innovation in key areas across the economy. The diesel power generators
:59:11. > :59:12.for poor and equality, small inoperative, in my constituency
:59:13. > :59:19.whose Mobile hybrid units provide green energy to the construction. My
:59:20. > :59:22.noble friend makes a good point and through him, can I congratulate the
:59:23. > :59:27.business involved that as my honourable friend. With the
:59:28. > :59:31.government 's plans, to improve the energy infrastructure, what positive
:59:32. > :59:42.impact will that have. On small businesses when it comes to
:59:43. > :59:49.electricity cost. The primary effect will be to keep the it down for
:59:50. > :59:52.small businesses. There is an excellent company and a new car is a
:59:53. > :59:56.pride chain that have excellent vacancies that will be on offer in
:59:57. > :00:03.Mike seventh annual Pendle jobs that. What more can we do to support
:00:04. > :00:07.the nuclear supply chain. Mr Speaker one of the things we have done to
:00:08. > :00:15.support the supply chain is to have a continuing commitment and it will
:00:16. > :00:18.benefit his constituents and through a network of training colleges, we
:00:19. > :00:23.will make sure that we grow the nuclear skills. I found the minister
:00:24. > :00:28.was a touch complacent in his earlier answer on smart meters,
:00:29. > :00:31.given this is going to coursed the taxpayer 11 billion by the end of
:00:32. > :00:40.the Parliament, what is he going to do by the fact that it doesn't work
:00:41. > :00:46.when you try to switch supplier. It will save ?47 billion by the end of
:00:47. > :00:51.that decade. When will the business rate review commenced an report, in
:00:52. > :00:58.the light that sticking plasters last week do little for the small
:00:59. > :01:04.businesses in York. The review will report in due course and in the not
:01:05. > :01:08.too distant future. Thank you Mr Speaker, the Digital strategy is a
:01:09. > :01:11.key component in the government 's industrial strategy, can he do
:01:12. > :01:15.better than decent MS and tummy which countries have committed to
:01:16. > :01:24.working Great Grimsby as part of the skills partnership. It is about
:01:25. > :01:26.invitation to businesses to come forward and pose to the government
:01:27. > :01:42.what is required to grow the jobs and skills there. That is the aim of
:01:43. > :01:47.all skills. They have felled to declare much more complimentary
:01:48. > :01:50.today, tenants are protesting outside the office, how long will
:01:51. > :01:55.they keep failing to do their duty and not facing up to the situation?
:01:56. > :01:58.The honourable gentleman knows that the Commissioner for Public
:01:59. > :02:01.avoidance stated that the panel did consider that there were no
:02:02. > :02:08.conflicts of interest in this case that would preclude Mr Newby from
:02:09. > :02:15.doing his job. We must now remove on. Statements, the Prime Minister.
:02:16. > :02:18.CHEERING Thank you Mr Speaker had with
:02:19. > :02:21.permission I would like to make a statement on last weeks European
:02:22. > :02:25.Council. And the next steps in preparing to trigger Article 50, and
:02:26. > :02:30.beginning in the process of leaving the European Union. The summit began
:02:31. > :02:33.by re-electing Donald Tusk as president of the European Council, I
:02:34. > :02:36.welcomed this because we have a close working relationships with
:02:37. > :02:39.Donald Tusk and we recognise the strong contribution he has made in
:02:40. > :02:40.office. In the main business