:00:00. > :00:00.other arrangements and the dates when the ten minute rule motions can
:00:00. > :00:09.be made and presentation bills introduced is published in the order
:00:10. > :00:12.paper. Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and
:00:13. > :00:21.Industrial Strategy. Kirsty Blackman. Question one, Mr Speaker.
:00:22. > :00:26.Minister, Richard Harrington. My department is in regular contact
:00:27. > :00:28.with the oil and gas industry, as honourable ladies and gentlemen may
:00:29. > :00:35.be aware, my predecessor, he met with them readily, in London and
:00:36. > :00:40.Aberdeen. On the 23rd of March, the oil and gas authority awarded
:00:41. > :00:45.licences for blocks to enable exploration in frontier areas, the
:00:46. > :00:48.first to focus on these areas in two decades. I look forward to
:00:49. > :00:52.continuing this relationship which is important for jobs and the wider
:00:53. > :00:57.economy. In my first week in this post, at a reception at Imperial
:00:58. > :01:01.College, I met several companies and trade bodies in this field. I thank
:01:02. > :01:06.the Minister. I warmly welcome him to his place. In 2016, the
:01:07. > :01:12.Chancellor announced action would be taken to improve the tax regime for
:01:13. > :01:15.late life asset transfers. In 2017, he renounced the same policy in the
:01:16. > :01:20.budget. Now an expert panel was to be set up. Could the Minister let me
:01:21. > :01:24.know how many times the panel has met so far and when we expect the
:01:25. > :01:30.outcome is to be made public, as it says there will be on the website? I
:01:31. > :01:36.thank her for her question. We have worked together in previous posts
:01:37. > :01:38.and I look forward on my visit to Aberdeen, hopefully the honourable
:01:39. > :01:45.lady will be able to visit with me. As far as the late life assets are
:01:46. > :01:51.concerned, we realised how important it is, getting it right, not just
:01:52. > :01:55.for jobs, but for generating further investment. The panel of experts is
:01:56. > :02:01.considering this. We look forward to hearing a wide range of views and we
:02:02. > :02:06.will report at the autumn budget. When it comes to sources of UK gas,
:02:07. > :02:08.the minister will be aware, the state of Qatar has become
:02:09. > :02:13.increasingly important for the UK not least through impulse of
:02:14. > :02:18.liquefied gas through my constituency. What steps is the
:02:19. > :02:21.minister taking to ensure the current diplomatic crisis does not
:02:22. > :02:27.lead to any disruption of energy the UK --?
:02:28. > :02:31.lead to any disruption of energy the UK This is being monitored very
:02:32. > :02:35.carefully, the situation, by the Government, and we do not believe it
:02:36. > :02:41.will make any difference whatsoever to liquid gas supplies. If I could
:02:42. > :02:45.welcome the Minister to his place? The North Sea, the kind of action
:02:46. > :02:49.described by my honourable friend is vital especially to help long
:02:50. > :02:53.returning optimism. The Scottish Government has invested ?5 million
:02:54. > :02:57.to explore the commissioning opportunities that could grow new
:02:58. > :03:01.jobs. When will we get action from the UK Government and when will we
:03:02. > :03:06.see a robust and comprehensive future energy strategy from the UK
:03:07. > :03:11.Government? As the honourable gentleman will be aware, the
:03:12. > :03:17.Government has been involved very actively in funding seismic surveys
:03:18. > :03:20.and 3-D visualisation is at Herriot Watt University. I am looking
:03:21. > :03:25.forward to the next licensing round and dealing with the strategy he
:03:26. > :03:29.mentioned. I should mention, if I may, the development which the
:03:30. > :03:33.Government supported which the first barrels of oil were produced last
:03:34. > :03:41.week and we look forward to 50,000 barrels per day at peak. The fact is
:03:42. > :03:46.the UK Government has been slow to realise the potential of
:03:47. > :03:50.decommissioning, pulled fighting from -- funding and failed to
:03:51. > :03:53.adequately address the drop in renewable energy investment and it
:03:54. > :03:58.has plunged public funds into risky and poor value nuclear power
:03:59. > :04:03.projects. When will the Government wake up and take our energy
:04:04. > :04:07.opportunities seriously bastion much I am afraid I must completely
:04:08. > :04:11.disagree with the honourable gentleman's view. -- energy
:04:12. > :04:15.opportunities seriously? The significant opportunities we are
:04:16. > :04:19.currently considering options for the delivery of a port and yard and
:04:20. > :04:29.we will continue to engage closely with stakeholders. Question number
:04:30. > :04:32.two, Mr Speaker. Thank you. Since the referendum, I have held
:04:33. > :04:37.discussions with businesses, workers and local leaders across the UK and
:04:38. > :04:41.investors around the world. These will continue over the coming
:04:42. > :04:44.months, including my weekly meetings with the directors general of the
:04:45. > :04:51.five main business organisations. The Government is creating a new EU
:04:52. > :04:54.exit business advisory group to ensure business is not only heard
:04:55. > :05:01.but influential throughout the negotiations. I thank the Secretary
:05:02. > :05:05.of State. My particular interest is in the life science sector worth
:05:06. > :05:11.some 30 billion to the economy and has nearly half a million jobs. Many
:05:12. > :05:16.in my constituency. As one of the leading research and science
:05:17. > :05:20.sectors, could the Minister Tadhg Furlong -- could the Minister tell
:05:21. > :05:25.me we will have vital support as we leave the EU? We want in our
:05:26. > :05:32.negotiations to make sure we can continue the successful conclusion
:05:33. > :05:36.meat collaborations -- successful collaborations making a further
:05:37. > :05:40.investment in the future of research and the House may be interested to
:05:41. > :05:43.know I can announce today the Government has committed to
:05:44. > :05:51.underwrite the UK's fair share for the joint European costs of nuclear
:05:52. > :05:56.research, a leading nuclear fusion facility in Oxfordshire, supporting
:05:57. > :05:59.1300 jobs. It is funded through a contract between the European
:06:00. > :06:02.Commission and the UK atomic energy authority and in making this
:06:03. > :06:06.commitment, the Government hopes to provide certainty and reassurance
:06:07. > :06:11.needed so that we can have a mutually beneficial extension of
:06:12. > :06:15.this contract. Given all those five business organisations he refers to
:06:16. > :06:18.have come out against the Prime Minister's extreme damaging Brexit,
:06:19. > :06:22.what is he doing to ensure the Prime Minister not only here is what they
:06:23. > :06:28.are saying but listens to it? He will know that the business
:06:29. > :06:35.organisations, the five of them, have put forward a very sensible set
:06:36. > :06:41.of principles to govern both the transition and the shape of the
:06:42. > :06:45.final agreement. They seem very sensible suggestions. And part of
:06:46. > :06:49.the point of engaging with business, as I do very rigorously and
:06:50. > :06:54.frequently, is to make sure that voice is heard. One of the important
:06:55. > :06:57.principle is that the business organisations have stressed is the
:06:58. > :07:01.essential nature of having contractual and legal certainty for
:07:02. > :07:04.those entering into legal obligations so they know they will
:07:05. > :07:09.continue to be enforceable once we leave the EU. Will he therefore make
:07:10. > :07:14.sure particular regard is had to do need for transition periods to be
:07:15. > :07:17.based upon the reality of business practice, rather than arbitrary
:07:18. > :07:25.considerations? He makes an excellent point and if he has the
:07:26. > :07:27.continued privilege to chair the committee on matters pertaining to
:07:28. > :07:35.justice, I am sure the committee will give some help in this. Thank
:07:36. > :07:39.you. Many businesses are particularly concerned about
:07:40. > :07:44.additional checks on imports and exports in trade if we leave the
:07:45. > :07:47.customs union. Can the Secretary of State give any reassurance at all
:07:48. > :07:53.the businesses that there will not be additional checks if and when we
:07:54. > :07:57.leave the customs union? I have always been clear and the Government
:07:58. > :08:01.has been clear that we want to have not only no tariffs but
:08:02. > :08:05.bureaucratic impediments. That is bureaucratic impediments. That is
:08:06. > :08:08.one of the objectives that of the business organisations have set out.
:08:09. > :08:15.She knows the negotiations have just started but we are clear that is our
:08:16. > :08:19.objective. Will my right honourable friend be asking businesses to list
:08:20. > :08:24.the most egregious and restrictive EU directives that may be removed to
:08:25. > :08:27.make British business more competitive and efficient? We do
:08:28. > :08:33.have and I am sure he will be an assiduous contributor to the
:08:34. > :08:39.scrutiny of the repeal bill, the approach is to transfer into UK law
:08:40. > :08:42.that which was part of EU law precisely so this House can
:08:43. > :08:50.scrutinise and consider what we should continue with. Yesterday the
:08:51. > :08:55.Government said the EU citizens would be able to apply for what it
:08:56. > :09:01.called settled status so they could continue to live and work in the UK.
:09:02. > :09:04.Application processes can be very time-consuming, of course, not to
:09:05. > :09:09.mention complicated, expensive and off-putting, especially when this
:09:10. > :09:12.government is involved. How can the Secretary of State guarantee that
:09:13. > :09:17.all EU nationals working in the UK will be allowed to stay, not just in
:09:18. > :09:22.theory, but in practice to the benefit of the many businesses who
:09:23. > :09:25.rely on EU workers? And I welcome the honourable gentleman back to his
:09:26. > :09:29.place? I think the whole of the front bench team has been
:09:30. > :09:35.reappointed, nice to see loyalty rewarded. What I would say the...
:09:36. > :09:38.LAUGHTER What I would say to the honourable
:09:39. > :09:41.gentleman is that he is absolutely right and I would have thought he
:09:42. > :09:48.would welcome what is a very positive statement that the Prime
:09:49. > :09:52.Minister has made, it is important in implementing that that it should
:09:53. > :09:55.be done with no bureaucracy so people can apply with confidence.
:09:56. > :10:06.Number three, thank you. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Unjustified,
:10:07. > :10:11.late and nonpayment of retention payment or any amount owed is
:10:12. > :10:13.unacceptable. These practices cost particular problems for small
:10:14. > :10:17.businesses in the construction sector and the Government is
:10:18. > :10:19.committed to tackling them. We will shortly be publishing research into
:10:20. > :10:26.these issues alongside a consultation. A system of cash
:10:27. > :10:30.retention has been wreaking havoc in the construction industry for
:10:31. > :10:33.decades. Can she ensure is that will shimmy radical action to overhaul
:10:34. > :10:40.the system and gadgets they widens taking so long? There is indeed far
:10:41. > :10:43.too much abuse of the system of cash retention and it has been going on
:10:44. > :10:46.for too long. The burden of administrative time securing
:10:47. > :10:50.pavement and the drain on working capital ways far too heavily on a
:10:51. > :10:57.smaller firms in the supply chain and I can assure him that we will be
:10:58. > :11:00.taking action. Mr Speaker, if the Government had listened in 2015 to
:11:01. > :11:03.the amendments of the Labour Party putting into the small business
:11:04. > :11:08.bill, we would already have a solution and we told them then that
:11:09. > :11:13.the Government would take action a few months ago with the proposals
:11:14. > :11:19.about naming and shaming businesses that didn't publish their late
:11:20. > :11:23.payments. We have yet another consultation, we have research from
:11:24. > :11:26.crossflow payments through 74% of small businesses who don't believe
:11:27. > :11:30.the Government's recent changes will make any difference. Can we have a
:11:31. > :11:35.policy that Attlee enforces late payments rather than serious cost
:11:36. > :11:38.rotations as we have had. I agree with the honourable gentleman that
:11:39. > :11:42.action is needed but it is important that we take the right action. We
:11:43. > :11:47.have undertaken a consultation. The result of this will be published
:11:48. > :11:54.shortly. This will also be followed by a consultation on a 2011 change
:11:55. > :11:58.to the construction act which will consider the merits of ring fencing
:11:59. > :12:01.retentions and also the extent to which contractors are making
:12:02. > :12:05.repayment of retention is conditional on the performance of
:12:06. > :12:13.obligations under other completely separate contracts. Questionable
:12:14. > :12:17.for, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to congratulate the
:12:18. > :12:22.honourable gentleman on his pathfinding work in this area. I
:12:23. > :12:25.understand he is a proud owner of an electric vehicle made in the UK and
:12:26. > :12:28.he will therefore know that this is an exceptionally important point for
:12:29. > :12:34.us. I'm very proud of the Government's ambition for most are
:12:35. > :12:37.all cards to be zero emissions from 2050 and also our success in
:12:38. > :12:41.positioning the UK is a leading destination for the manufacture of
:12:42. > :12:46.research of these vehicles. He will be reassured that good progress is
:12:47. > :12:49.being made with Chris readiness but the upcoming smart systems plans and
:12:50. > :12:57.the automated and electric vehicles built assured that the roll-out of
:12:58. > :13:02.electric vehicles is accelerated. I thank the Minister for that response
:13:03. > :13:10.and I am glad to hear that because the impacts of electric vehicles on
:13:11. > :13:13.the distribution network estimates that power lines could be impaired
:13:14. > :13:17.so I would like to ask how quickly we can hear a report on this given
:13:18. > :13:21.that the usage of such vehicles is likely to rise substantially in the
:13:22. > :13:26.coming years. I think he is right in with policies to really accelerate
:13:27. > :13:29.the usage of electric vehicles as is a critical thing, he will know that
:13:30. > :13:34.off Jim has approved business plans with a local network companies that
:13:35. > :13:37.already raked in millions of pounds of investment to ensure that the
:13:38. > :13:42.expected demands on the grid can be met. But equally it is not just
:13:43. > :13:45.about raw investment in cables, it is actually about changing consumer
:13:46. > :13:50.behaviour to ensure they can charge their vehicles at a time that puts
:13:51. > :13:53.least demands on the grid and perhaps save them money and I refer
:13:54. > :13:58.back to our plan and also the bill that will actually enable smart
:13:59. > :14:02.charging and help people to actually charge their vehicles at a time when
:14:03. > :14:07.it puts least demands on the network. All sounds very exciting, I
:14:08. > :14:15.must say! Does the Minister ever worry, when it looks like investing
:14:16. > :14:19.?100 billion into a test to which will open at the earliest in 2033,
:14:20. > :14:26.does and she worried that by that time we would be able to press into
:14:27. > :14:29.your phone and a driverless vehicle powered by electricity would come to
:14:30. > :14:37.your home and take you anywhere in the country? Isn't that ?100 billion
:14:38. > :14:40.of wasted money? By the way, Mr Speaker, seeing you in an electric
:14:41. > :14:44.vehicle would be a success in my new role. We can have a conversation
:14:45. > :14:47.afterwards. He will know that I think that upgrading our rail and
:14:48. > :14:52.road networks is one of the ways to reduce congestion on the roads right
:14:53. > :14:54.now and also open up business opportunities and creates new
:14:55. > :14:57.capacity, potentially to look at things like electric rail freight,
:14:58. > :15:00.something in my view that has been severely neglected by successive
:15:01. > :15:05.governments over many years. This is why we want to position ourselves
:15:06. > :15:10.both as a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles and one in five
:15:11. > :15:14.elected vehicles sold in EU is made in Britain but also as a hub for
:15:15. > :15:17.innovation. We are putting millions of pounds into innovation studies
:15:18. > :15:21.and research to see how these new technologies can work together to
:15:22. > :15:28.ultimately achieve the aim of zero emissions by 2050. Electric vehicles
:15:29. > :15:31.are a vital part of meeting our climate change commitments. Can the
:15:32. > :15:36.Minister update us on further action to tackle climate change after the
:15:37. > :15:40.USA's repudiation of the Paris agreement? I thank my honourable
:15:41. > :15:44.friend for this valuable question. I was delighted on almost the first
:15:45. > :15:47.day on the job to be sent to Luxembourg to meet with our EU
:15:48. > :15:52.counterparts in this important area to discuss the fact that we are all
:15:53. > :15:56.very disappointed with Mr Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the
:15:57. > :15:59.Paris agreement, to accept is more work needs to be done by the
:16:00. > :16:06.remaining countries to emphasise that Paris is non-negotiable
:16:07. > :16:09.although we would like him to come back and also I was personally able
:16:10. > :16:12.to increase the level of UK funding for the IP CC trust fund across the
:16:13. > :16:16.board with other European friends and neighbours to ensure that any
:16:17. > :16:21.reduction of funding from the USA can be met. Can I welcome the
:16:22. > :16:25.honourable lady to her new position and indeed members of the front
:16:26. > :16:31.bench, new and old to their roles? With regards to the local grids, can
:16:32. > :16:34.we have proper local accountability, ownership of local community grids
:16:35. > :16:39.so that we break the monopolies of the attribution companies who make
:16:40. > :16:42.masses of money and don't always reinvest? I think the honourable
:16:43. > :16:47.gentleman raises an incredibly valuable point about how we actually
:16:48. > :16:50.starts to move ourselves away from generating emissions in the heating
:16:51. > :16:53.and lighting sector. He will be pleased to know that I was able to
:16:54. > :16:57.put more innovation funding into trials doing exactly that. Already,
:16:58. > :17:01.as he knows, I like to do these things seriously but we are already
:17:02. > :17:06.funding pilots to see how peer-to-peer exchange of power can
:17:07. > :17:08.actually work and how to further include the Leeds improve community
:17:09. > :17:17.generation and storage of energy going forward. Question five,
:17:18. > :17:21.please. Supporting small businesses is a crucial part of our industrial
:17:22. > :17:24.strategy. The Government is investing in the Thames Gateway
:17:25. > :17:27.including through the local growth fund and the new lower Thames
:17:28. > :17:31.crossing. We will continue to work with industry and local authorities
:17:32. > :17:37.in the Thames Gateway to create the conditions for all businesses to
:17:38. > :17:41.thrive. The lack of collectivity that exists between Kent and Essex
:17:42. > :17:46.frustrates commerce between those two counties. The lower Thames
:17:47. > :17:49.crossing will help with that but it is going to take some years to be
:17:50. > :17:54.built so will the Minister use this time to work with local businesses
:17:55. > :17:57.in that area in order to unlock the huge amount of potential, in the
:17:58. > :18:04.existing area, that is yet to be fully realised? The lower Thames
:18:05. > :18:07.crossing is due to be open in 2025 but in the meantime, local growth
:18:08. > :18:12.hubs will continue to deliver support services to help businesses
:18:13. > :18:19.in the area to grow over the period. In addition, almost half of these at
:18:20. > :18:23.least local enterprise partnerships funding of 274 million is directly
:18:24. > :18:27.supporting growth in north Kent and South Essex. Through improving
:18:28. > :18:32.transport infrastructure, addressing skills needs and creating new
:18:33. > :18:36.business spaces. Mr Speaker, the Minister will no one of the
:18:37. > :18:40.strengths of the Thames Gateway is the closeness of connections
:18:41. > :18:43.elsewhere in Europe but one of the worries that small and medium-sized
:18:44. > :18:47.businesses have is whether they will be able to continue to recruit staff
:18:48. > :18:51.from other EU countries after Brexit. What the minister
:18:52. > :18:55.acknowledged the strength of the concerns of firms in the Thames
:18:56. > :18:56.Gateway about that and can she offer them any reassurance about the
:18:57. > :19:05.prospects after Brexit? Having spoken to many businesses
:19:06. > :19:08.over the last year, I acknowledge the concerns that the honourable
:19:09. > :19:13.gentleman refers to. Within the Thames Gateway area, but I was
:19:14. > :19:18.reassured myself and I hope that he was by the Prime Minister's opening
:19:19. > :19:23.start in the negotiations last week and the reassurance that she was
:19:24. > :19:27.able to offer many hundreds of thousands of EU citizens currently
:19:28. > :19:35.residing in the UK and working in his area. The honourable gentleman
:19:36. > :19:40.is an SMO ball fell all but West Dunbartonshire is it their distance
:19:41. > :19:43.from the Thames Gateway. Knowing his intellect, he may have a pertinent
:19:44. > :19:51.inquiry and I'm fascinated to discover whether he has. Thank you,
:19:52. > :19:57.Mr Speaker (!) businesses in the Thames Gateway, along with West
:19:58. > :20:00.Dunbartonshire, require confidence in those who form governments and
:20:01. > :20:05.those who support them. Will the Minister agree with me that that
:20:06. > :20:10.confidence requires transparency and call upon every political party in
:20:11. > :20:13.Northern Ireland is now to publish fully everything in terms of their
:20:14. > :20:19.political donations and campaigns that they are involved in? That is
:20:20. > :20:22.manifestly out of order! The honourable gentleman was one
:20:23. > :20:26.interested in what he had to say to the Minister than in anything the
:20:27. > :20:33.minister might say to him. Gareth Snell. Question number six, Mr
:20:34. > :20:37.Speaker. I think this one is in order and I'm sure you bought the
:20:38. > :20:41.size that. Mr Speaker, there have been significant investment in the
:20:42. > :20:50.UK's national gaps infrastructure over the last decade. That Magna the
:20:51. > :20:53.Leeds unnatural gas. We have highly flexible sources of natural gas
:20:54. > :20:58.which includes production from the North Sea, six international
:20:59. > :21:00.pipelines with Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands, three natural gas
:21:01. > :21:05.terminals which can brings apply from anywhere in the world and a
:21:06. > :21:10.number of gas storage facilities so we are confident that this market of
:21:11. > :21:16.will continue to secure gas supplies but of course, I would continue to
:21:17. > :21:18.monitor the position. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I begged the
:21:19. > :21:24.Minister for his answer. The ceramics industry is a very energy
:21:25. > :21:28.intensive employer in my constituency and highly reliant on a
:21:29. > :21:31.secure supply of gas for business continuity. In light of the
:21:32. > :21:35.announcement that the gas storage facility is to close, what
:21:36. > :21:40.assurances can be given to the ceramics and district but the gas it
:21:41. > :21:45.needs one not now be unaffordable runouts? As I explained in the
:21:46. > :21:49.answer to the first question, we have a very diverse range of sources
:21:50. > :21:56.from all of the different sources that I mentioned before and I just
:21:57. > :22:01.myself but analysis conducted by the National Grid and others suggest
:22:02. > :22:03.that this closure will not cause any issues and I'm willing to give the
:22:04. > :22:08.honourable gentleman in the undertakings of my department that I
:22:09. > :22:14.will monitor this on a weekly basis. Number seven, Mr Speaker. Mr
:22:15. > :22:19.Speaker, with your permission, I would like to answer this along with
:22:20. > :22:21.question 14. The industrial strategy Green paper was launched on the 23rd
:22:22. > :22:27.of January and has been warmly received across the country. We have
:22:28. > :22:30.received over 1900 responses to the consultation with respondents from
:22:31. > :22:32.every part of the United Kingdom and I look forward to taking our modern
:22:33. > :22:40.industrial strategy forward with the involvement of all members of this
:22:41. > :22:46.House in the months ahead. In a damaging blow to business confidence
:22:47. > :22:49.and the economy in Renfrewshire, the workforce have voted to strike over
:22:50. > :22:53.pay offers which the company has admitted does not meet commitments
:22:54. > :23:00.made to the workforce. The Secretary of State join me in urging a deal
:23:01. > :23:06.which prevents industrial action recognises the work over many, many
:23:07. > :23:09.years? Of course, we want to avoid industrial action. I am not aware of
:23:10. > :23:12.the particular circumstances but I am happy to meet with him afterwards
:23:13. > :23:21.and he can informally in more detail. Can I ask the Secretary of
:23:22. > :23:24.State if he was agreeing with the Secretary of State for Defence 's
:23:25. > :23:29.book is warning about the need to provide extra investment in those
:23:30. > :23:35.areas that are left behind, even if that bill comes to something like
:23:36. > :23:39.?1.5 billion? Secretary of State, could you tell us when he is going
:23:40. > :23:47.to open talks with other honourable members about the needs of their
:23:48. > :23:51.areas? So that we can insure, Mr Speaker, that those regions which
:23:52. > :23:58.are left behind are not left behind and left out. Hear, hear! I'm
:23:59. > :24:01.surprised to hear that question from the right Honourable member because
:24:02. > :24:06.of all the people in this House, he knows, he was one of the great
:24:07. > :24:11.proponents of a city deal and a devolution deal for Birmingham and
:24:12. > :24:14.the West Midlands, the value of which is over ?1 billion. Looking
:24:15. > :24:18.around the chamber, there are many members opposite that have made
:24:19. > :24:24.precisely such a case that we should invest in areas of the country
:24:25. > :24:30.outside national programmes. It seems to me that it is reasonable to
:24:31. > :24:34.continue that programme. I have the opportunity to take soundings from
:24:35. > :24:37.small businesses in rugby as a small business Expo run by the Federation
:24:38. > :24:43.of Small Businesses on Friday and there are concerns was with the
:24:44. > :24:46.remit of staff. These skills are often not available local
:24:47. > :24:49.job-seekers. In those instances, what the Secretary of State
:24:50. > :24:52.reassurance about the training of young people moving forward but also
:24:53. > :24:59.the ability to ability to continue to recruit staff from the EU moving
:25:00. > :25:02.forward? One of the big findings from, that has been reinforced in
:25:03. > :25:07.the concentration on the industrial strategy is that we need to really
:25:08. > :25:12.ramp up the level of skills and technical education and training in
:25:13. > :25:15.this country. That is, we will respond to the consultation in the
:25:16. > :25:17.weeks ahead but he can rest assured that that will be one of the key
:25:18. > :25:27.pillars of it. A business park in Cannock is
:25:28. > :25:32.already home to many leading businesses and the new developments
:25:33. > :25:35.will see hundreds of new jobs. Does my right honourable friend agree
:25:36. > :25:39.these developments are evidence of business covered and and shows
:25:40. > :25:44.Cannock Chase is open for business and a great place to do business?
:25:45. > :25:49.Having visited with my honourable friend, she is a great champion of
:25:50. > :25:55.the businesses there and it is fair to reflect the confidence of both
:25:56. > :26:00.manufacturers and employers and other sectors is high, as the CBI
:26:01. > :26:10.attested to this week, high across the country, including in Cannock
:26:11. > :26:14.Chase. We have discussed the UK's exit across government and with key
:26:15. > :26:24.stakeholders, our objective is to ensure leaving it has no adverse
:26:25. > :26:28.effects. Medical radioisotopes are not special nuclear material and
:26:29. > :26:30.they are not subject to international nuclear safeguards.
:26:31. > :26:37.Therefore, their availability should not be impacted by the UK's exit and
:26:38. > :26:48.as the honourable member will have seen, the Queen's Speech announced
:26:49. > :26:51.the Government's intention to... The Times yesterday estimated it would
:26:52. > :26:55.take seven years to negotiate the equivalent terms for this treaty.
:26:56. > :27:00.Given experts have warned that we must avoid a cliff edge withdrawal,
:27:01. > :27:03.would the Minister agree that leaving in the current timeline is
:27:04. > :27:08.unfeasible and that in fact it would be in the UK's best interests
:27:09. > :27:14.Tuesday in Euratem and avoid this mess? I should obviously welcome the
:27:15. > :27:21.honourable member to her place in the House. Our objective is clear,
:27:22. > :27:24.we want to maintain the UK's leading role as a responsible nuclear state
:27:25. > :27:28.with a flourishing nuclear-power industry. We will establish a regime
:27:29. > :27:39.that ensures nothing changes in that regard as we leave Euratem. Question
:27:40. > :27:44.number nine. My welcome him to this house and the considerable expertise
:27:45. > :27:47.he brings with him from his former employment. Zero hours contracts
:27:48. > :27:53.allow those people to access the labour market who cannot or do not
:27:54. > :27:57.want to commit the standard regular work. The Government recognises the
:27:58. > :28:01.concerns of employers breaching the rules or exploiting their position.
:28:02. > :28:05.We want to make sure everyone is paid properly and receives the
:28:06. > :28:11.employment rights to which they are entitled. I thank the Minister for
:28:12. > :28:17.her kind words. Given the ease with which just yesterday ?1 billion was
:28:18. > :28:18.found to protect only one job in Westminster...
:28:19. > :28:22.LAUGHTER Could the Minister say what actions
:28:23. > :28:26.the Government is taking to encourage business to offer genuine
:28:27. > :28:33.financial and personal security to the nearly 1 million workers on zero
:28:34. > :28:37.hours contracts? The Government believes people are entitled to be
:28:38. > :28:42.treated fairly at work, regardless of what type of contract they have
:28:43. > :28:45.with the company for whom they work. The Prime Minister commissioned
:28:46. > :28:50.Matthew Taylor to undertake a review of the rights of employees and will
:28:51. > :28:58.report on ways employment regulation needs to keep pace with changes in
:28:59. > :29:02.the labour market very shortly. The Minister, and I welcome the fact she
:29:03. > :29:10.said this, said that the Government was determined to ensure employees
:29:11. > :29:13.get there employment rights, why has the Government introduced the huge
:29:14. > :29:21.fees for access to employment tribunal 's? Will they now abolished
:29:22. > :29:27.them? Employment tribunal 's are a matter for the Ministry of Justice.
:29:28. > :29:33.I am in discussions with them over the review of employment tribunals I
:29:34. > :29:40.have undertaken and we do keep a watching brief on the matters she
:29:41. > :29:44.has raised. What does the Minister have to say to the young dustmen who
:29:45. > :29:48.said, we have just got married, about to have a baby, paying a
:29:49. > :29:52.fortune in rent, we would love to buy our own home but no chance
:29:53. > :29:55.because I am on zero hours contracts? Is it not the truth that
:29:56. > :29:59.he and millions of others like him have seen through the pretence that
:30:00. > :30:04.somehow the Conservative Party as the party of the working class, the
:30:05. > :30:08.false claims and phoney promises and they have simply had enough of
:30:09. > :30:17.falling paid, squeezed living standards and security in the world
:30:18. > :30:21.of work? Minister. I think we should have a perspective on these matters.
:30:22. > :30:26.actually is on a zero hours contract actually is on a zero hours contract
:30:27. > :30:27.at the moment and 70% of those, according to the most recent
:30:28. > :30:35.research, they are content with the research, they are content
:30:36. > :30:36.number of hours they are working. number of
:30:37. > :30:37.But I do accept the point is the But I do accept the point is the
:30:38. > :30:40.honourable gentleman has raised about his constituent and the
:30:41. > :30:51.scenario Matthew Taylor has reviewed and will be reporting on very soon.
:30:52. > :30:56.Number 10, Mr Speaker. Ministers in the Brexit department and I are in
:30:57. > :31:00.regular discussions with SMEs and representatives and we are arranging
:31:01. > :31:05.at the moment a joint ministerial Round Table with SMEs to ensure
:31:06. > :31:09.their voices are heard throughout the Brexit negotiations. And only
:31:10. > :31:14.and I held a Round Table with small and I held a Round Table
:31:15. > :31:24.businesses on the negotiations. Thank you. 92% of exporting small
:31:25. > :31:30.businesses trade in the EU single market. Can the Minister tell me how
:31:31. > :31:34.she predicts these small businesses will be affected by the loss of our
:31:35. > :31:40.membership? And how will she ensure this sector continues to be
:31:41. > :31:46.represented in any future negotiations? The Government is
:31:47. > :31:52.committed to negotiating a full and open trade agreement with the EU on
:31:53. > :31:56.our departure. As my right honourable friend, the Secretary of
:31:57. > :32:01.State, said earlier, we are aiming for a situation where no tariffs are
:32:02. > :32:07.applied to SMEs who export into the single market and no unnecessary
:32:08. > :32:12.bureaucracy. Many SMEs in my constituency are part of European
:32:13. > :32:15.and global supply chains and does the Minister understand those
:32:16. > :32:18.businesses, as well as large businesses, need clarity and
:32:19. > :32:23.certainty? When will the Minister and the Government be in a position
:32:24. > :32:26.to give them certainty about the transitional arrangements we put in
:32:27. > :32:34.place because businesses are already making investment decisions? The
:32:35. > :32:40.point is the honourable gentleman raises are very valid, but they are
:32:41. > :32:45.part of the ongoing negotiations and as he knows, these negotiations have
:32:46. > :32:48.some way to go. But we are defending our position as the number one
:32:49. > :32:53.destination for foreign direct investment and we will be ensuring
:32:54. > :33:02.SMEs have a strong position in global supply chains into the
:33:03. > :33:07.future. 11. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to answer this question
:33:08. > :33:11.together with question 22. Our manifesto said we will introduce a
:33:12. > :33:16.safeguard tariffs to extend the price protection currently in place
:33:17. > :33:24.for some vulnerable customers to more customers. I stand by that
:33:25. > :33:28.commitment. The lived experience of many people is that the Conservative
:33:29. > :33:36.Party have done nothing for the past seven years to fix the energy
:33:37. > :33:40.market. Whilst I welcome the fact they are moving and transforming
:33:41. > :33:44.from calling and energy price cap Marxist and extremely dangerous to
:33:45. > :33:48.actually copying it, will the Minister say if he is facing calls
:33:49. > :33:53.to water down this policy from the big six or from his own
:33:54. > :33:59.backbenchers? In welcoming the honourable lady to the House, she
:34:00. > :34:04.follows a distinguished predecessor, I would perhaps invite her to
:34:05. > :34:07.reflect on the history of her own party in this in which the former
:34:08. > :34:11.Leader of the Opposition was the Energy Secretary and failed to do
:34:12. > :34:15.anything whatsoever about this. I have been very clear about the
:34:16. > :34:26.commitment we have made and we will see it through. Imitation is the
:34:27. > :34:30.sincerest form of flattery. To misquote Caroline Aherne's question
:34:31. > :34:36.to Debbie McGee, what first attracted you to Labour's
:34:37. > :34:41.financially astute, socially just and politically responsible energy
:34:42. > :34:47.price cap? What the honourable gentleman and I welcome him back,
:34:48. > :34:51.what he describes as an energy price cap of course was launched as energy
:34:52. > :34:56.price freeze and the problem with that was that energy prices fell so
:34:57. > :35:00.that consumers would be paying more than they needed to. It would have
:35:01. > :35:06.been a disastrous situation for consumers which is why the proposal
:35:07. > :35:10.we have made in response to the Competition and Markets Authority
:35:11. > :35:16.analysis is a much more sensible approach than what we got from the
:35:17. > :35:21.party opposite. As we have heard, various media outlets have reported
:35:22. > :35:24.recently senior Cabinet members were lobbying for the Conservative price
:35:25. > :35:29.cap manifesto commitment to be dropped. The secretary's recent
:35:30. > :35:32.letter to Ofgem was silent on the price cap element and when
:35:33. > :35:36.questioned last week, the Prime Minister refused to confirm and
:35:37. > :35:41.ambiguously that the price cap would be upheld. Would the Secretary of
:35:42. > :35:47.State confirm for the avoidance of doubt that he will implement not
:35:48. > :35:50.just stand by the promise to price cap to deliver 70 million customers
:35:51. > :35:57.the ?100 savings his Prime Minister promised? And I welcome her back?
:35:58. > :36:03.Very good to see her back in her place. I did not hear her name
:36:04. > :36:06.chanted in Glastonbury, I will not do it here, but I warmly welcome her
:36:07. > :36:11.back. I have been clear and the Queen's Speech is very clear, it
:36:12. > :36:14.said that my government will ensure fairer markets for consumers
:36:15. > :36:17.including bringing forward measures to tackle unfair practices in the
:36:18. > :36:24.energy market to reduce energy bills. I am afraid it is not clear.
:36:25. > :36:29.The secretary's recent letter to Ofgem simply asks them to advise him
:36:30. > :36:34.of the action they intend to take to safeguard customers on the poorest
:36:35. > :36:38.value tariffs. It was not a direction to implement a price cap.
:36:39. > :36:44.Can he confirmed that should Ofgem not take directions to implement a
:36:45. > :36:48.price cap or they direct a price cap that is narrower than the
:36:49. > :36:52.Conservative manifesto commitment, he will legislate to uphold his
:36:53. > :36:58.party's manifesto commitment, and if so, when? If the honourable lady
:36:59. > :37:07.looks at the powers I have, the powers I have are two ask Ofgem to
:37:08. > :37:10.move in this way, not to order them, they are independent. I would have
:37:11. > :37:15.thought she would welcome the fact that since I think there is a strong
:37:16. > :37:20.body of opinion across both sides of the House that the detriment that
:37:21. > :37:25.consumers have been suffering should be put to an end, it should be put
:37:26. > :37:29.to an end as soon as possible, rather than wait for the legislation
:37:30. > :37:33.to pass through the House, Ofgem have the powers, and I believe they
:37:34. > :37:42.should use them. Number 12, Mr Speaker. The importance of our
:37:43. > :37:46.regions is a core pillar of the industrial strategy. We will build
:37:47. > :37:51.on successful clusters of which the Humber energy history is a perfect
:37:52. > :37:54.example. Its leading position in million engineering has been
:37:55. > :38:03.strengthened by the opening of factories around the offshore wind
:38:04. > :38:06.industry -- Marine engineering. New jobs have been created. It is the
:38:07. > :38:13.industrial strategy in action. Ministers recently blocked her
:38:14. > :38:17.private finance initiative in Hull to have the rail electrification
:38:18. > :38:21.overweight at Hull, an important part of an infrastructure needed in
:38:22. > :38:26.East Yorkshire. Are people here right to believe the ?1 billion that
:38:27. > :38:31.was found for the Northern Ireland powerhouse is at the expense of the
:38:32. > :38:36.northern powerhouse? The honourable lady knows as well as anyone in this
:38:37. > :38:41.house is the commitment this government and I in particular have
:38:42. > :38:47.made the devolving funds to Harlem and the Humber. They have benefited
:38:48. > :38:53.considerably from the city deal and then the great deal -- Hull and the
:38:54. > :38:57.Humber. It has contributed to the increased prosperity that I would
:38:58. > :38:59.have thought she would welcome. Notwithstanding what my right
:39:00. > :39:04.honourable friend has just outlined and despite the fact business
:39:05. > :39:09.confidence in the region is fried, as outlined by the most recent
:39:10. > :39:13.chambers quarterly report, there is still further initiatives that can
:39:14. > :39:17.be taken to advance the Northern powerhouse. What further plans do
:39:18. > :39:23.you have? He is absolutely right. One of the aspects of the progress
:39:24. > :39:26.that has been made in the Humber is the close working relationships
:39:27. > :39:30.established between businesses and council leaders North and south of
:39:31. > :39:35.the Humber with the Government. I look forward to visiting the area. I
:39:36. > :39:43.am a regular visitor. So we can have a further incident of devolution and
:39:44. > :39:46.the funds to that area. With nearly 2500 job losses announced in New
:39:47. > :39:51.York over the last seven months including Nestle and the closure of
:39:52. > :39:56.two company head offices, there are clear challenges to York's economy.
:39:57. > :39:59.Can he agree a meeting with me and his senior officials to make sure we
:40:00. > :40:05.can address the serious challenges and ensure the industrial strategy
:40:06. > :40:10.does reach York as well? I would be very happy to do that. Of course,
:40:11. > :40:15.Nestle is a major employer and there is a cluster of food and drink and
:40:16. > :40:21.agriculture businesses in and around York. That has been identified in
:40:22. > :40:24.the industrial strategy as an area of real potential and I look forward
:40:25. > :40:29.to working with the honourable lady to realise that.
:40:30. > :40:37.Expanding Torbay's manufacturing sector is a key part of diversifying
:40:38. > :40:43.for the Centre. It is the Government still planning to introduced
:40:44. > :40:47.Institute of technology across England? The importance of upgrading
:40:48. > :40:51.our levels of skill education is vital in all parts of the country
:40:52. > :40:54.including in Torbay and Institute of technology are ways of ensuring that
:40:55. > :41:00.industries can benefit from the particular skills that they need.
:41:01. > :41:04.Having abolished the regional development agency, the party
:41:05. > :41:10.opposite refused to invest in growth for good jobs across the country. We
:41:11. > :41:15.are now the most on the wall economy in western Europe. And if every
:41:16. > :41:20.region produced at the same rate per head as London, we would all be one
:41:21. > :41:25.third richer. Instead, working people haven't had a pay right for
:41:26. > :41:29.seven years so will the Secretary of State commits to matching the
:41:30. > :41:34.specific proposals for investment for jobs that is laid out in
:41:35. > :41:40.Labour's industrial strategy or does his new-found largess ends with the
:41:41. > :41:44.shores of Ulster? Again, the honourable lady makes a
:41:45. > :41:48.disappointing response because she knows and the leaders of Harrow
:41:49. > :41:52.Council is no how important things like the city deal and the growth
:41:53. > :41:56.deal have been in the north-east and looking around the country, one of
:41:57. > :42:02.the things that she should commend is that in years past, the majority
:42:03. > :42:05.of jobs were created in London and the Southeast. That situation has
:42:06. > :42:09.been transformed and the north-east of England has been one of the areas
:42:10. > :42:20.in the country that has created jobs at a more rapid rate than anywhere
:42:21. > :42:23.else. Number 13. I would like to welcome the honourable lady to her
:42:24. > :42:27.new job. I also have a new job and is taking on the role, I have to
:42:28. > :42:33.say, I have been incredibly impressed with the progress that the
:42:34. > :42:36.UK has made with its own climate emission targets and also taking
:42:37. > :42:41.international leadership in this area. I want the car Ringrose plan
:42:42. > :42:47.to be as ambitious, robust and clear a blueprint as it can be so we can
:42:48. > :42:52.continue to deliver on this hugely important piece of domestic and
:42:53. > :42:56.international policy. I am therefore taking the time to ensure that the
:42:57. > :43:00.draft could be extended to be more ambitious and I intend to publish
:43:01. > :43:05.that plan when Parliament sets again after the summary says. I have been
:43:06. > :43:10.on the edge of my seat as has always been the case but I think I am right
:43:11. > :43:16.that the Right Honourable Lady was trying to group this with numbers of
:43:17. > :43:23.15 and 19. So, taken away with responsibilities, she neglected to
:43:24. > :43:30.tell as this. I would like to group that with questions 15 and 19. Thank
:43:31. > :43:34.you. Rich George. I thank the Secretary of State for words. Will
:43:35. > :43:40.she join me in commending the work of the murders that a future
:43:41. > :43:43.partnership in my own constituency in the Peak District by
:43:44. > :43:51.regurgitating the large areas of beer and pizza that exist in the
:43:52. > :43:56.Peak District -- re-turfing the large areas of their peak. But she
:43:57. > :44:05.let us know what the new time frame for the Carbon reduction plan due in
:44:06. > :44:08.2016 will have on industry and other partnerships relying on it? I thank
:44:09. > :44:13.the honourable lady for her question. I am delighted to welcome
:44:14. > :44:17.this innovative partnership launched in 2002 and making real progress in
:44:18. > :44:22.working out how we can match or a restart carbon in the peat
:44:23. > :44:27.environment she is now representing. My intention is to publish the clean
:44:28. > :44:31.a growth plan when Parliament returns from its summer recess and I
:44:32. > :44:34.look forward to cross-party discussion and hopefully consensus
:44:35. > :44:40.in a hugely important documents both for Britain's domestic future and I
:44:41. > :44:44.work four and leadership. The publication date is talked about is
:44:45. > :44:49.almost a year after the original intention of the Government. Doesn't
:44:50. > :44:53.this indicate a lack of commitment to tackling climate change and what
:44:54. > :44:59.what she is doing to engage with other departments to say ensure they
:45:00. > :45:03.carry out emissions impact assessments we can see a real
:45:04. > :45:09.commitment across all of Government? And I gently say, as a proud MP of a
:45:10. > :45:14.constituency which has Britain's leading carbon capture and storage
:45:15. > :45:16.system, he ought to welcome the progress that successive governments
:45:17. > :45:20.have made on this agenda. We were diverse country in the world to set
:45:21. > :45:24.binding carbon budgets. We have overachieved in the first and second
:45:25. > :45:27.ones and our full intention is to engage the whole of Government and
:45:28. > :45:38.industry in delivering on the upcoming budgets. Thank you, Mr
:45:39. > :45:46.Speaker. Again, we still don't seem to have the date published. Again,
:45:47. > :45:50.you are talking about a date after recess, but what specific date is
:45:51. > :45:54.that because with the Minister agree this is creating considerable
:45:55. > :45:58.uncertainty for the business community and, indeed, could have an
:45:59. > :46:01.effect including energy bills and potential increases? I welcome the
:46:02. > :46:05.honourable gentleman to his new place. He will know that we are
:46:06. > :46:10.talking about setting a trajectory of budgets from 2022 and beyond. The
:46:11. > :46:14.projects we are making is absolutely exceptional both domestic and
:46:15. > :46:20.internationally and I want to be clear and I know he is new in this
:46:21. > :46:22.place but he committed his diary and check when the House returns from
:46:23. > :46:27.the summer recess. My intention is to publish the plan when the House
:46:28. > :46:31.returns from the summer recess. This sentencing enquiries are now
:46:32. > :46:36.required. Earlier she spoke of peer-to-peer exchange of energies. I
:46:37. > :46:41.have no idea what that is but given the enthusiasm that she has now
:46:42. > :46:46.brought to that brief, I believe we all deserve a tutorial. Can it be
:46:47. > :46:49.arranged? It would be a pleasure to educate the honourable gentleman.
:46:50. > :46:54.Think of it at a lot of hot air being generated by one particular
:46:55. > :46:59.point being shared around many other datapoints as part of our future.
:47:00. > :47:04.I'm sure the honourable lady balls ministerial peers in other countries
:47:05. > :47:06.to whom she referred earlier Gloucester felt keenly conscious of
:47:07. > :47:14.their great privilege in meeting the honourable ladies. In relation to
:47:15. > :47:19.carbon, I would like to plot this Government's record on tackling
:47:20. > :47:23.carbon emissions. I believe our carbon reduction plan alongside
:47:24. > :47:26.investment in new technologies and ratifying the Paris agreement will
:47:27. > :47:31.make us world leaders in this field, will create as many more jobs
:47:32. > :47:36.including, I am hopeful, in Taunton Deane with spin offs from Hinkley
:47:37. > :47:39.point, the lowest carbon development plan in Europe. Can the Minister
:47:40. > :47:42.give further indications on how the Government is responding to the US
:47:43. > :47:47.withdrawal from the parish climate change agreement? I thank the
:47:48. > :47:51.honourable lady from her question. Even those who don't think this is a
:47:52. > :47:55.pressing international issue must surely welcome that there are now
:47:56. > :47:58.more than 400,000 people employed in this industry, more than in the
:47:59. > :48:02.aerospace sector and Britain has shown both in the D7 meetings and
:48:03. > :48:05.the environment Council meetings that we absolutely are prepared to
:48:06. > :48:08.stand shoulder to shoulder with our European and international partners
:48:09. > :48:17.and make up any deficit caused by Mr Trump's withdrawal. Thank you, Mr
:48:18. > :48:24.Speaker. We were promised the publication of this report in the
:48:25. > :48:29.middle of 2016 and then in October 2016 we were promised this report
:48:30. > :48:33.from the permanent secretary by Feghouli 2017. Then in January 2017,
:48:34. > :48:37.we were promised the reports in the first three months of the year by
:48:38. > :48:42.the then Secretary of State for the department. Now we hear it might be
:48:43. > :48:46.published this autumn. But a year and a half later from the original
:48:47. > :48:50.promise, we are now clearly in default of the climate change act
:48:51. > :48:54.which requires that this plan should be published as soon as reasonable
:48:55. > :48:58.after the order has been laid. It is in the Minister ashamed of this
:48:59. > :49:03.lamentable failure to act on the legislative requirements and a
:49:04. > :49:06.report that is important to the future of climate change activity
:49:07. > :49:11.and will she apologised to be housed for the delay in reporting? Again, I
:49:12. > :49:13.would have expected more from the honourable gentleman. Let me remind
:49:14. > :49:18.him what has happens is the committees report has happened. He
:49:19. > :49:23.will remember we had Brexit, we had a general election, we remember we
:49:24. > :49:26.had the withdrawal of the USA from the climate, the Paris climate
:49:27. > :49:31.change agreement. I want to take the time to make sure this report
:49:32. > :49:35.exceeds his expectations and I will take no lessons frankly from the
:49:36. > :49:40.front bench opposite who have consistently failed to welcome this
:49:41. > :49:45.country's progress, progress was the right Honourable member for
:49:46. > :49:49.Doncaster North, sadly not in his place, was intelligent enough to
:49:50. > :49:55.kick off in 2009 and I believe in delivery not promises, unlike his
:49:56. > :50:04.manifesto and the party opposite. Order! Topical questions. Question
:50:05. > :50:07.one, question one. As outlined in the Queen's speeds, we will drive
:50:08. > :50:10.the Verity across the country and in the last month we have written
:50:11. > :50:14.importers date in that process. While we analysed the nearly 2000
:50:15. > :50:18.responses we have received, we continue to make decisions that help
:50:19. > :50:22.UK wide industries. We have now is ?1 billion over the next four years
:50:23. > :50:25.of our most innovative industries like artificial intelligence,
:50:26. > :50:31.medicine, and toddlers vehicles. We have listed investment, such as
:50:32. > :50:35.providing the University of Edinburgh with ?29 which will
:50:36. > :50:40.support their research in infectious diseases and also create more highly
:50:41. > :50:47.skilled jobs and cements the UK is a world leader in science and
:50:48. > :50:53.innovation -- ?2 million. Industries Security is vital for national
:50:54. > :50:57.security and finally finances. The essential project in Cumbria is key
:50:58. > :51:01.for such security but with Toshiba predicted to lose ?7 billion and a
:51:02. > :51:05.French firm backing the project is backing out, can the Secretary of
:51:06. > :51:09.State tell as if and when this project is going ahead and give the
:51:10. > :51:17.assurances that industry workers and consumers desperately needs? We have
:51:18. > :51:22.inaugurated a new era of nuclear power through the Hinkley point CE
:51:23. > :51:27.approval. In terms of this particular investments, it is a
:51:28. > :51:30.consortium, it is a new gen consortium. The membership passages
:51:31. > :51:36.from time to time and they have expressed themselves in confidence
:51:37. > :51:41.that they will be able to proceed. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I welcome the
:51:42. > :51:44.Government's commitment to this new strategy. Can the Secretary of State
:51:45. > :51:52.of the House with his plans on how to support new technologies. He was
:51:53. > :51:55.a great champion of this in Las Palmas I hope he will be here.
:51:56. > :52:00.You'll be aware that one of the great fruits of the industrial
:52:01. > :52:05.strategy is the challenge fund that has already made funds available for
:52:06. > :52:10.research in health care medicine, in artificial intelligence, clean
:52:11. > :52:13.energy, driverless cars, advanced materials and in satellites and
:52:14. > :52:24.space technology or this is exactly in line with what he and his group
:52:25. > :52:29.have been urging on us. They had a pledge to deliver a country with
:52:30. > :52:33.wealth and opportunity spread across every community in the United
:52:34. > :52:39.Kingdom and I see Northern Ireland just had their share. Will the
:52:40. > :52:42.Minister tell me how the Government's industrial strategy
:52:43. > :52:46.will bring wealth and opportunity to places like Blackburn where the
:52:47. > :52:54.national average wage is far less than places like Maidenhead, for
:52:55. > :52:58.example? And how quickly can this strategy be delivered because
:52:59. > :53:02.Blackburn has seen too many cuts from this Government and its time we
:53:03. > :53:08.had some investment. I welcome the honourable lady to her place. She
:53:09. > :53:12.will discover, I hope over time, that a key part of the industrial
:53:13. > :53:18.strategy is to drive growth in all parts of the country. My department
:53:19. > :53:24.and I personally have in every part of the country worked to get funds
:53:25. > :53:30.out of Whitehall, into local places. It includes a Lancashire ?320
:53:31. > :53:33.million for the funding of the growth deal there, but she will also
:53:34. > :53:38.be aware that it is necessary to have an economy that is prospering
:53:39. > :53:44.and the one thing that would stand in the way of that is the record
:53:45. > :53:48.level of taxation in our peacetime history that I'm afraid the
:53:49. > :53:53.manifesto on which she stood would have threatened the country with. We
:53:54. > :53:59.are very short on time, we need to speed up. Our energy and emerging
:54:00. > :54:05.technologies actors are welcome our manifesto commitment to increase are
:54:06. > :54:09.indeed from 1.7% to 2.4% of GDP. But it was not in the Queen's speech, so
:54:10. > :54:17.what has happened to this commitment is? Fear not, Mr Speaker, this did
:54:18. > :54:21.not require legislation to deliver. It remains a priority for the
:54:22. > :54:25.Government and the delivery of our industrial strategy. We want to get
:54:26. > :54:33.to 2.4% of GDP for our art and he spends and we have a longer-term
:54:34. > :54:37.ambition of 3% that. Research by citizens advice found that half of
:54:38. > :54:42.people on zero-hour contracts and two thirds of people on temporary
:54:43. > :54:47.contracts worryingly believe that they are not entitled to paid
:54:48. > :54:52.holiday. Pericles CAV has bound employees deliberately misleading
:54:53. > :54:55.employees about their rights. What steps are being taken to ensure
:54:56. > :54:59.workers are aware of the rights to a fair holiday and what repercussions
:55:00. > :55:02.will there be for companies who misleads staff and can the Minister
:55:03. > :55:10.confirm when the Taylor review will be published? The honourable lady is
:55:11. > :55:13.quite right to draw attention to workers who are misled and workers
:55:14. > :55:18.who believe erroneously that they have fewer rights than they do. We
:55:19. > :55:23.are absolutely commitment that any individual, whatever contract they
:55:24. > :55:27.are on, they are entitled to the rights and we have increased the
:55:28. > :55:33.power is open to it ICT enforce those rights.
:55:34. > :55:41.Market towns are vital to the rural economy and a draw people together
:55:42. > :55:47.across the 531 square miles of my constituency. Modern shopping habits
:55:48. > :55:51.can mean it is difficult for businesses in market towns to
:55:52. > :55:58.survive. What is the Government doing to support a much needed and
:55:59. > :56:03.much loved market towns? Market towns such as the ones in her
:56:04. > :56:07.constituency will have all of the support that we are giving to the
:56:08. > :56:17.retail sector and high streets in order for market towns to flourish.
:56:18. > :56:21.Thank you. The Neo have published a report that is nothing short of
:56:22. > :56:27.damning about Hinkley Point C, describing it as Risley and
:56:28. > :56:32.expensive. When will this government listen to the experts? -- risky.
:56:33. > :56:40.When will it invest instead in carbon capture and storage? I do
:56:41. > :56:45.feel that if ever you decided not to be Mr Speaker, a career as chairman
:56:46. > :56:52.of the BBC Radio 4 programme Just A Minute. . I am trying to keep to
:56:53. > :57:02.your one sentence rule, the Hinkley Point contract is entirely designed
:57:03. > :57:06.so as not to get the Government involved in expensive capital
:57:07. > :57:09.expenditure and the nuclear power produced will be an excellent part
:57:10. > :57:16.of a mix of power for decades to come. Having access to the next
:57:17. > :57:20.generation of skilled workers is vital for business confidence and
:57:21. > :57:23.growth. Would the minister consider promoting the opportunities of our
:57:24. > :57:28.ambitious apprenticeship programme through the annual business rate may
:57:29. > :57:33.lead to increased awareness? In the Queen's Speech, significant
:57:34. > :57:37.attention was given the commitments to roll out new institutes of
:57:38. > :57:40.technology to that extra half ?1 billion of spending that will be
:57:41. > :57:50.given to further education and to the delivery of our target to
:57:51. > :57:52.deliver 3 million apprenticeship starts by 2020. High quality further
:57:53. > :57:59.education is a priority of this country and this government going
:58:00. > :58:02.forward. The British ceramic industry owes its current success
:58:03. > :58:07.and future survival to the innovation and development of
:58:08. > :58:11.breakthrough technologies. With funds potentially disappearing along
:58:12. > :58:14.with EU membership, can I receive assurances from the Government that
:58:15. > :58:23.domestic projects will receive support to keep us at the cutting
:58:24. > :58:27.edge? Mr Speaker, we remain committed to ensuring the UK remains
:58:28. > :58:31.the go to place for science, innovation and tech investment in
:58:32. > :58:33.the years ahead. We want to be open to collaboration in research
:58:34. > :58:41.partnerships with institutions across the EU and the world. As we
:58:42. > :58:45.negotiate our departure from the EU. Can I ask the Secretary of State
:58:46. > :58:51.what assessment he has made of the Government's industrial strategy on
:58:52. > :58:57.Scotland? It has been very warmly received in Scotland and we have had
:58:58. > :59:02.a very positive response from businesses in Scotland. In fact, I
:59:03. > :59:06.had a very enjoyable Round Table in Aberdeen, it was described by one of
:59:07. > :59:10.the local businesses as a breath of fresh air. I look forward to
:59:11. > :59:14.continuing that engagement with everyone in Scotland and I am sure
:59:15. > :59:23.my honourable friend will play a big part in this. While other countries,
:59:24. > :59:27.including our EU partners, have over the years used public purchasing to
:59:28. > :59:33.support industry, Britain so often has not. As Brexit approaches, what
:59:34. > :59:36.is the Government doing to ensure government departments, local
:59:37. > :59:41.services, emergency services, councils, other public bodies, back
:59:42. > :59:48.British industry and British jobs by buying British first? He will know
:59:49. > :59:55.that we have already changed the procurement guidelines so that local
:59:56. > :59:58.value can be taken into account. We are anticipating the issue the
:59:59. > :00:05.honourable gentleman has mentioned and it is being done. The Secretary
:00:06. > :00:08.of State is aware I have long campaigned for parental bereavement
:00:09. > :00:12.leave. I was delighted to see this policy not just in the Conservative
:00:13. > :00:16.Party manifesto but also in the Labour manifesto. Would he kindly
:00:17. > :00:22.please set out what steps the Government will take to introduce
:00:23. > :00:26.this important benefit? I agree with my noble friend that bereaved
:00:27. > :00:29.parents should have the opportunity to grieve away from the workplace
:00:30. > :00:33.and we will seek to provide for that. I am willing to meet with him
:00:34. > :00:40.to discuss further how we might make such provision. The Secretary of
:00:41. > :00:44.State has told repeatedly today about the discussions he has had on
:00:45. > :00:50.Brexit, which trade unions has he met and when? I meet regularly with
:00:51. > :00:57.trade unions, I met Frances O'Grady of the TUC last week, I spoke to the
:00:58. > :01:03.steel union yesterday, I spoke to Len McCluskey earlier, a few weeks
:01:04. > :01:12.ago. My contacts cover both sides of the employer and trade union mix.
:01:13. > :01:21.Earlier this year, 116 MPs signed a I wrote to the Secretary of State
:01:22. > :01:24.urging him to implement the review for the first-ever tidal lagoon.
:01:25. > :01:31.When will a decision be taken? This is a very... The Hendry review also
:01:32. > :01:36.said there is very significant questions as to whether tidal
:01:37. > :01:40.lagoons can be cost-effective. We are fully aware of government
:01:41. > :01:44.decision is needed for anything to proceed. It is absolutely right we
:01:45. > :01:49.take the necessary time to consider this carefully. Now the honourable
:01:50. > :01:52.gentleman has reached at the midpoint of his parliamentary
:01:53. > :01:58.career, I had been intending to call him if he was standing, but he
:01:59. > :02:04.isn't. If he does, I will. Mr Dennis Skinner. I have listened to the
:02:05. > :02:12.questions and the answers for the last hour. And I hear about the City
:02:13. > :02:20.deals and all the rest of it. Why doesn't the minister, the secretary,
:02:21. > :02:25.answer the specific questions about the trade unions? If he wants to
:02:26. > :02:30.give the impression that he is on the side of working class people,
:02:31. > :02:36.why don't they drop the Trade Union Bill and all the rest of it? I could
:02:37. > :02:40.not have been clearer about the regular discussions I have with
:02:41. > :02:45.trade unionists. My concern, which I hoped would be his concern, is to
:02:46. > :02:49.make sure in all parts of the UK, we generate the jobs and growth that
:02:50. > :02:54.can make sure all working people have a prosperous future to look
:02:55. > :03:00.forward to. That is the purpose of this government, in contrast to the
:03:01. > :03:07.manifesto on which he stood. He didn't give an answer! I must say,
:03:08. > :03:11.on the strength of his 47 years experience, he knows not receiving
:03:12. > :03:15.an answer is not an altogether novel phenomenon in the House of Commons.
:03:16. > :03:20.Irrespective of who is in power at the time. Order. Would members
:03:21. > :03:21.wishing to take their seats please come to the