Live Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions House of Commons

Welcome to BBC Parliament's live

coverage of the House of Commons. In

one hour, Philip Hammond the cancer

of the Exchequer will make his

spring statement, the slimmed down

version of the Spring Budget. The

Chancellor is expected to resist

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policies. It is billed as a short

statement but you never really know

with these things. John McDonnell

will respond for the opposition. And

people are Mac will then make a

series of... Changes to Universal

Credit, and more. Join me at 11pm

for a round-up. First, Greg Clark.

Number one.

My ministerial

colleagues and I have discussions

regularly with the Welsh Government.

My officials were in Cardiff to

discuss the proposed Swansea tidal

lagoon.

Last week. At the heart of

the Industrial Strategy is spreading

prosperity across the whole of the

United Kingdom and working with

devolved administrations in our

nations and regions to achieve this.

Working with practical developers to

develop marine energy. Will the

Secretary of State make a decision

work with Welsh Government, with

developers, so we can roll out,

maximise our potential and spread

prosperity in this part of the

United Kingdom?

The enthusiasm for

green energy, I am proud of our

achievements. We have quadrupled the

proportion of our renewable

electricity since 2010. We have a

responsibility to minimise the

impact on consumers' bills. The

Swansea proposal was very much more

expensive, more than twice as

expensive as the Hinckley

nuclear-power station for example.

We are in discussion with our

colleagues in the Welsh Government

and don't want to close the door on

something if it is possible.

Can I

also see that making a decision on

the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon is

important for Wales as a whole, more

the goons around Newport following

the Swansea find and we cannot pass

these opportunities up.

I take the

point. The First Minister wrote to

me yesterday acknowledging the

genuine challengers, considering a

proposal with untried technology and

high capital costs and

uncertainties. It is best to explore

all of the responsibilities. --

possibilities.

With your permission,

this would question 20. Government

research in consumer satisfaction

published in August last year shows

satisfaction with smart meters are

high. 80% of consumers are satisfied

and would recommend them to friends

and family. Smart Energy GB found

nearly 90% of people with a smart

meter change their behaviour

patterns and make energy savings.

It

is good to hear that so many people

are reaping the benefits from smart

meters. No system is ever perfect.

For a small number of customers like

one of my clubs in Aikens this -- my

constituency. They are getting

unhelpful responses from their

electricity provider.

My honourable friend made a point

about the Junior club in his

constituency, I would meet with him

specifically but I have not found

that generally to be the case. The

roll-out of smart meters is an

important national modernisation

programme bringing benefits to

consumers and his constituents.

My supplementary question. Smart

meters are good for consumers and

suppliers alike but the roll-out

relies on a good mobile phone signal

for effectiveness. In many parts of

rural Scotland, that is not the

case. Can the Minister reassure me

he is working across the Government

and with relevant stakeholders to

make sure residents in rural areas

benefit from smart meters? My

apologies.

I agree entirely. We are

working on that. Our solution covers

Scotland and contracted to cover

nearly all premises by 2020.

Does

the Minister accept his stance based

on surveys carried out about ten

weeks after installation, my own

survey found 54% of constituents

would currently refuse a smart

meter. 97% want to see the cost of

the programme shown on their bills.

74% said that receiving one has not

yet made any difference to the size

of their bills. Would you also take

those findings into account?

The

honourable gentleman knows me well

enough to know I am very interested

in anything he has to say. He

contributed a lot to the passage of

the bill in the House of Commons and

I would like to receive those

statistics, I do not just quote one

sample, because I get them from

different places.

I am sure the

Minister is speaking in good faith

but I have come across constituents

who find bills are actually

increasing. As he had discussions

with utility companies about keeping

an eye on this and making sure the

effect of smart meters is to reduce

costs, for many constituents are

poor.

I am surprised to hear this.

We are both talking in good faith. I

would like to hear those examples

but I can't expand why bills would

go up. Nearly 90% of smart meters

say it is changing the energy

patterns and bills are going down.

Can the Minister update us where we

are with the role of...

He talks

about the newer type of meter,

smets2. The first one studs all new

ones will be smets2.

The smart meter becomes a dumb

meter... Can he puts a timeline on

the roll-out?

In place shortly after

the summer, the measures will make

sure that does not happen. The small

number of smets1 which do not become

a smart meter, they will become

compliant and they were speak to

each other electronically.

I think

we should all be proud of the

progress the UK has made in meeting

its carbon reduction targets.

Current statistics show we have met

our first Budget, are on track to

exceed our second and third budgets

and 97% and 95% of where we need to

be to meet the fourth and fifth

budgets. IKEA groaning. I think

these are decent numbers even though

we are ten and 15 years away.

The

lack of focus and ambition from the

Tory Government means we are set to

miss our legally binding carbon

targets. Repeal the ban on onshore

wind. Prioritise energy efficient

measures in zero carbon homes and

commit to the Swansea Bay tidal

lagoon. When will the Government

gets its act together, demonstrate

its commitment to future generations

and get on with it?

Perhaps she

wrote that before hearing the

answer. Let me share with the

honourable lady two facts. Britain

has led the world in de-colonising

our economy. At present I'm not

delivering carbon cuts.

Two countries in the world's leading

a two degree target. China and the

UK. We have set out the most

ambitious set of policies and

proposals ever seen from the

Government in the Queen growth

strategy. Bringing that forward and

it would be nice to feel cross-party

consensus on doing something that is

so vital for the future of the

country and the world.

I am

interested to hear when she said

that we were on target for three

carbon budgets but will miss the

fourth. In the words of the climate

change committee, they said the

fourth carbon Budget won't be met

unless policies are supplemented by

more challenging measures. She spoke

about ambition. What are those

challenging measures?

The

calculations for the fourth and

fifth carbon budgets which end in

1015 years' time, which we are 95

and 97% of the way to meeting are

based on an analysis of only 13% of

the policies and proposals in the

growth strategy. -- Queen growth

strategy. My right honourable friend

's think that is quite good. --

clean growth. I am confident we will

meet our budgets with our ambitious

polity, ingenuity of British

business and science and frank with

the strong campaigning and structure

of the Climate Change Act, which we

were the first country of the world

to pass.

Does she agree with me

that's improving home energy

efficiency measures would help us

meet our carbon budgets going

forward?

The honourable lady led an

accident debate on this in

Westminster. Aspect of cross-party

consensus. -- excellent debate. We

have set our home in efficiency

targets in band C for 2025. We are

bringing forward the eco-targets.

If we are to reach our carbon

targets, clearly nuclear power will

be central to that. Is the Minister

confident in progress is being made

to see the construction of nuclear

plants in Anglesey and Cumbria?

As

he knows, making these long-term

decisions and creating costs for

consumers over decades, whether in

tidal lagoons or nuclear, are

matters we have to take seriously.

We have to reduce carbon emissions

in the power supply, reduce cost for

consumers and create innovation to

export around the world. Those

considerations are all being taken

into account.

The government will

need to support offshore wind

projects. In Scottish waters, Jim

Ryan Trident are working to deliver

projects. Due to factors outwith

their control, they will struggle to

hit UK Government deadlines in

October. Will the Minister to

discuss how we might support these

projects to make their contribution

to carbon reduction?

We have worked

hard on these innovations. The

challenge is that the thes out of

the obligations were set four years

ago. Were not intending to extend

periods. As he knows, I'm always

willing to build cross-party

consensus on this vital issue.

I'm

sure it's not the Minister was my

intention to mislead the host, but

her statements about us being 96% of

our way towards meeting our fourth

and fifth carbon budgets need to put

in the context of the fact that we

are committed to reducing between

the fourth and fifth carbon budgets,

CO2 emissions by 200 million tonnes

but the government's amount only

register by 100 million tonnes. What

are the Minister's proposals to

ensure that the outstanding 109

million tonnes are reduced?

He is a

clever scientific fellow and he

knows those numbers are referring to

the baseline numbers of 1990. I

would be happy to sit down with them

on goal line by line through the

carbon budgets because again he and

I need to be absolutely clear that

regardless of what this government

and future governments do, those

budgets had to be fit to practice

and we have to be clear and

transparent about how we're going to

meet them, which is exactly what the

clean growth strategy has done.

Britain is building one of the best

charge point networks in the world.

Our 400 million fund will see

thousands more charge points

installed across the UK.

Yesterday,

the select committee visited the

electric vehicle company in my

constituency. It opened last year

and it is great when nursing

electric taxis on the streets of

London. In Milton Keynes, we heard

can seems that we heard concerns

about the lack of compatibility is

putting people what can the

Secretary of State do to encourage

the industry to adopt a standard?

I'm delighted the committee went to

see the electric taxi company. It

was a fantastic event that my

honourable friend accompanied me

out, opening at. The recently

introduced alternative fuels

infrastructure legislation speaks of

publicly accessible charge points.

The government will have new powers

to regulate this technical sector.

If there is an uptake and there is

growth, the strain on the system,

the idea that electric vehicles do

not use a great deal of power is not

true and there are concerns about

strain on the system.

We have one of

the best access to the network in

the world. Especially for fast

charges. In terms of the electricity

grid, he is absolutely right that

electric vehicles can make a

contribution to the resilience of

the great because the batteries they

contain can store electricity that

is generated by renewables at the

time when it is needed. That is part

of the smart system's plan.

One of

the constraints people feel about

buying cars at the moment is there

is a limited range. So does he

welcomed the initiative of the Mayor

of the West Midlands, along with the

government, for the introduction of

battery research Centre here in the

West Midlands?

There isn't questions

session that goes by without me

welcoming the initiative of the

Mayor of the West Midlands. We are

investing at the cutting edge of

battery technology, so we can build

the cars of the future.

Specifically, what comfort can the

Secretary of State give to the

people of Bristol who wish to see

the number of electronic charging

points massively increased?

I'm

delighted there is such enthusiasm.

She will be aware the funding that

is available for charging

infrastructure is available

especially for city Centre

authorities who can put it into

public car parks.

The government

remains committed to supporting the

industry and building over -- on the

budget outlines. I enjoyed my recent

visit to Aberdeen. Industry

presented its proposals for a deal.

There is a meeting tomorrow. The oil

and gas industry is in the

north-east of Scotland have

contributed over £340 billion to the

economy. As a supply chain, it is

worth nearly £30 billion. With an

estimated 30 million barrels of oil

still to...

We need a single

sentence question. There isn't time.

What does the Minister intend to do

to develop the industry?

Yes, I do.

What discussion has the Minister had

with the Treasury regarding the HMRC

changes for the gas and oil

industry?

I will give a very quick

and succinct answer, as your vast. I

don't know and I'm happy to meet the

honourable member to discuss.

Can I

ask my honourable friend what

consideration he is giving to the

downstream sector? Each one of our

oil refineries are important. They

could benefit from clear long-term

thinking.

The whole sector is very

important to us. Specifically the

supply chain. I met with various

other players involved in this and

it is something that is of critical

importance to us.

The UK Government

has so far failed to announce a

sector deal for oil and gas and

there was no mention of one in its

industrial strategy. There is a need

for a sector deal approach to the

industry and the Scottish Government

has been calling for such action.

Will the Minister finally rectify

this glaring omission and commit

this vital support for the industry

and the jobs and investment it

relies on?

The honourable gentleman

should be aware that this is a

priority for us. Were working hard

with the sector to come up with a

sector deal and I am expecting those

talks to come into fruition very

soon.

The automotive sector deal

will insure the UK continues to reap

the benefits from reading the

transition to zero emission and

autonomous vehicles. Last month,

this true in £33 million of

investment into the UK-based

connected and autonomous vehicle

programmes, with participation

across the industry.

Jaguar Land

Rover recently developed and

electric performance SUV. The London

Electric company has also developed

the world's first electric taxi.

Would he join me in congratulating

these companies?

They are iconic

images and to see them leading the

way into the future is a matter of

great delight. I congratulate both

companies for choosing the UK to

manufacture these vehicles.

What

does the Secretary of State doing to

help the development regarding the

transition from diesel to petrol and

diesel to electric vehicles,

particularly with regard to helping

the infrastructure?

Were working

closely with the industry to make

sure that as they develop the new

technologies of the future they are

able to plan a smooth transition to

a world in which all of these

vehicles will be compatible with our

climate objectives.

All these new

electric vehicles are going to need

batteries, of which lithium is an

essential element. Recent

discoveries of large deposits of

lithium in Cornwall open up the

possibility of the UK securing a

domestic supply for this vital

element. What support can Secretary

of State give to this exciting new

emerging sector?

We have the

potential for new developments in

battery storage. If Cornwall can

supply the lithium to power that new

industry, then I'm delighted to hear

it and I will discuss further with

my honourable friend the

possibilities.

At yesterday's select

committee visit, it became very

apparent that the market for

electric vehicles is maturing at a

much faster rate than many people

realise. Is it possible that the

ambition of the sector itself is

outstripping ambition of the

government and shouldn't the 2040

target be brought forward, perhaps

even by a decade?

When it comes to

the new generation of automotive

technology, this government is not

outstripped by anyone. We are

working closely with the industry

through the automotive Council to

make sure we are the best place in

the world to research the

technologies but also to manufacture

was technologies in this country.

On

the automotive theme, the

government's long-term partnership

of the automotive industry as an

exemplar of our industrial strategy.

A fortnight ago, I went to

Derbyshire to welcome Toyota's

decision to build their new vehicle

in Burnaston, helping to secure 3000

jobs between Burnaston and Deeside

in North Wales.

I'm sure the

Secretary of State will have been

alarmed by the comments made by the

Chief Executive of the PSA group

which owns a facility in my

constituency about Brexit and

uncertainties. Will he meet with me

to impact the confidence that plans?

It is very clear that we are

determined, as the Prime Minister

set out in her speech at the Mansion

House, to make sure that this very

important integrated supply chain is

able to operate. It's worth bearing

in mind that since I and my team

have been in our department, every

single major new model decision has

gone our way in this country and I'm

determined to keep up that accuracy.

Thank you. The automotive sector is

crucial to the UK industry. It

employs some 814,000 people and we

are all proud of British car

manufacturers, including the iconic

Rolls-Royce and Jaguar. Yet, in

recent weeks, President Trump has

revealed an appetite for a trade war

which began with the announcement of

steel tariffs and now includes

threats to put tariffs on EU cars

which could hit our industry hard.

What is he doing to avoid a trade

war with the US? And should such

tariffs come into play, what will he

do to protect our sectors?

Yesterday, the trade Secretary give

a comprehensive statement. There was

some welcome for the cross-party

approach that went into defending

the international system of free

trade. It does no one any good if

you have tariffs in place as that

impede cheese trade. I would have

thought her endorsement of the

approach the trade Secretary was

taking would be welcome.

I Wood Group this together with 19.

The official receiver and a special

manager are working to an orderly

transition by facilitating the

transfer of contracts. As of the

12th of March, 8521 jobs had been

safeguarded and 1536 people have

been made redundant, sadly, through

liquidation. My right honourable

friend, the Business Secretary, has

set up a task force involving trade

associations, bankers and

representatives of Government to

support the Carillion supply chain.

The task force has brought in £900

million from support from UK

lenders.

If there is any doubt that

Tupe applies, will... Will trade

union recognition be transferred

with those staff?

I refer to the

recent Westminster Hall debate where

we debated the legal

responsibilities with relation to

Tupe which do not apply in many

cases during liquidation. Offer in

terms to transferring employees...

The Government is focused to make

sure transferred employees are no

worse than the official receiver is

doing all he can to facilitate this

wherever possible.

The Carillion

collapse has exposed market abuse

with wheat contract is with

contractors in Cheltenham

suffering... What is being done to

ensure compliance to the schemes and

stamp out market abuse?

My

honourable friend who has met me on

a number of occasions to defend the

interests of businesses in his

constituency will know the

Government had two priorities, to

protect the provision of services,

vital public services, and do what

we can to protect jobs employed by

Carillion and jobs in the supply

chain. We are clear we must learn

the lessons from the collapse of

Carillion. This could be a catalyst

for change for the good. We must do

all we can to learn the lessons with

regards to procurement and do more

to ensure the supply chain are

promptly paid and small businesses

are paid speedily, looking at the

prompt payment code is an important

part of that.

Following on, when

Carillion went bankrupt and many of

the subcontractors have not been

paid for 120 days, and the money

coming to Carillion was from the

Government. What is the Government

doing that when it gets contracts to

big businesses they are paying

contractors on time? Small

contractors are being destroyed...

I

applaud the work area committee is

doing of getting to the bottom of

what happened with Carillion. With

public sector contracts we pay with

30 days and expect Tier one

contractors to pay in 30 days, too.

We are determined to take action to

ensure this happens and looking at

what we can do not only to make sure

that small businesses in the public

sector supply chain get paid within

30 days, but also we do more to

support the private sector suppliers

as well.

What support has been given

to British nationals working abroad

who were with Carillion?

I thank

him. The main priority for this

Government has been to protect jobs

here in the UK and continue the

continuation of the public sector

contracts and services. The special

manager of course has a

responsibility to wind up the

business, get best for creditors. He

is responsible for dealing with

businesses overseas.

For the

Carillion workers who were not

transferred under the Tupe, what was

the degradation of their terms?

I

know she is working hard to make

sure her constituents employed by

Carillion get all the protections

possible. The Secretary of State has

had conversations with the special

manager to ensure that wherever

possible when contracts are

transferred the employees get like

conditions so they are no worse off.

As the honourable lady will

understand this is a complex and

complicated business and I do not at

the moment have an answer to the

specific statistics she requests.

Number 11. We want self-employed

people when it is the right thing

for them to be self-employed. This

is by the Government has introduced

new measures to make sure they are

even better supported. These include

improved support on embarking on

self-employed careers, encouraging

pension savings and supporting

people to pay the right tax. From

the 6th of April 2016, we have also

given self-employed people the

ability to build their entitlement

to the new state pension at the same

rate as employed people.

Lucky to

have a driving high street. Apollo

fisheries in morally were handing

out free food. -- Morley. Wilkie

congratulate the fisheries for the

Yorkshire hospitality?

I am no

stranger to a fish supper. I would

like to join her in congratulating

Apollo fisheries for their community

spirit. This demonstrate clearly

that businesses contribute not only

to the economy but our society. The

future high streets Forum provides

joint business and Government

leadership to enable our high

streets and town centres to adapt

and compete in the face of changing

consumer and social trends. We want

to go for this last week I announced

the establishment of the retail

sector Council bringing together

leaders in retail to help make

policies and support for the fighter

retail sector.

Whilst we all want to

see self-employment grow, we want to

crack down on apparent

self-employment where people are

forced to become self-employed by

exploitative employers who then save

National Insurance contributions

whilst putting all of the risks of

that employment on too often

vulnerable individuals. What is the

Government doing about that?

I am

sure the honourable lady will be

delighted to know the Government are

taking forward the proposals set out

by Matthew Taylor. We recognise that

status and whether workers are

employed or self-employed is key to

them getting not only the payment

but the protection they deserve.

That is why we have embarked on a

full consultation with an intention

to clarify the status of those

workers, to give them extra

protection and to ensure if it looks

like work, feels like work, it is

work and they are paid properly.

The

Government was my response to the

Taylor review did virtually nothing

to tackle the challenges and

insecurity self-employed people

face. Equally poor was the

Government's treatment of gig

workers. Don has died, they should

be making changes, that was what his

widow said. Matthew Taylor said the

response to the Taylor review was

four out of ten. I wonder what score

the Minister would give himself.

Seven weeks and, I think ten out of

ten. The Lady quotes Matthew Taylor,

what he has said clearly is that

this is a complex and complicated

matter. He wants us to get the

definition of status right because

the rights of thousands of gig

workers depend on it. That is why in

the quote she says he also says when

we are finished our consultation if

we deliver as we have promised he

would give seven or eight.

I wanted

to be ten. Ten out of ten, indeed.

The Chancellor might attempt to Lord

employment figures as positive news

but will fail to state 3 million

people are in insecure work. The

Centre for labour and social studies

say many do not have enough to live.

Despite assurances the quality of

work was worse. The Foreign

Secretary and other ministers are

pushing for a major employment law

deregulation. I ask him to confirm

whether his department is carrying

out any work looking at the

deregulation of certain employment

rights.

She must have pasted the

intention of what the Government

were doing with the Matthew Taylor

report. Not only are we committed to

guaranteeing we will continue with

employment rights and protections

that we currently have, this

Government is going further and

faster than anyone else. We are

going further and faster than our

European colleagues. To ensure that

we are giving gig workers, workers

in vulnerable working conditions,

agency workers greater protections

than ever before. We are not just

talking about it, we are protecting

those workers.

12.

I was congratulating myself too

much. Carthago delenda

the Government and British business

banks supports £4 billion worth of

finance to over 60,000 UK SMEs. We

are looking to establish a new £2.5

billion investment fund with the

British business back. The small

commissioner in addition else with

payment issues, dispute resolution

and sourcing advice across the UK.

For the Industrial Strategy we are

continuing to invest in 38 growth

hops across England alongside a

business support helpline. -- he

will no one of the crucial thing is

for successful small business in a

sector is access and understanding

the finances.

There is considerable

evidence that there is a gap at the

moment in the market for small

business to access finance. What is

he doing to address the knowledge

gap?

We are concerned at reports

that this is particularly small

business are reticent in coming

forward and accessing finance that

can help to invigorate and grow the

business. That is by the British

Business Bank publishes the business

finance guide produced in

partnership with the ICEAW. It is

published online. Also. Watching a

new digital platform in the spring

of this year to raise awareness

further.

Small businesses in

Cumbria, particularly farming and

tourism, were integral to the Lake

District gaining World Heritage Site

status last summer, which could see

a massive increase in visitors

coming to what is already the second

biggest British destination. Well

the Government back the businesses

with the infrastructure they need to

grow searches electrification?

I am

delighted to commit to support the

small businesses that he talks

about. He will be pleased to note

that we are boosting infrastructure

including digital with over £1

billion of public investment

including 176 million four five G

and 2,000,004 -- for full fibre

network also. I would like to talk

about the businesses in Lakeside

further and discuss more about what

we can do.

In small towns in my

constituency there is a thriving

retail sector. But things are

getting harder for them. Will the

Minister reinsure me that the

Government is doing everything it

can to support independent retailers

in thriving market bounce? --

reassure me.

I recognise the very

real challenges are high street

faces particularly independent

businesses. As the Spring Budget the

Chancellor announced a package of

measures for business rate relief

which included £1000 discount for

public Houses with values below

£100,000, 300 million for local

authorities to find discretionary

rate relief and a cap on rate relief

-- increases. Any small business

using rate relief will not see

increases.

The Minister should stop

being quite so complacent. Carillion

was a Secretary of the payment

code... Carillion suppliers were

paid on terms of 120 days.

Subcontractors say they are being

hammered by late payments. Yesterday

the Federation of small business

again highlighted the damage done to

growth by late payment. When our

ministers going to support smaller

firms in the public sector supply

chain and enforce the prompt payment

code?

We are certainly not

complacent. That is why we set up

the trade body group, in order to

assess the impact of Carillion. The

honourable gentleman will be

delighted to know that yesterday I

spoke to fill King who runs the

prompt payment code, I am meeting

him later on this week to see how we

can tighten up the code and give it

a real teeth. We are determined to

help small businesses.

We are firmly committed to local

partnerships, as announced in the

industrial strategy we are reviewing

the rules so they are able to play

an important role in driving growth

across the country, as we prepare to

leave the EU.

Does the Minister

agree with me it is shameful that

growth deal won money is being used

to sell off public sector land for

luxury apartment developments?

£50

million of growth deal round one has

been invested in Stevenage. It has

helped leveraging commitment of 350

million private investment into the

town. He raises an issue of concern

and I would urge him to speak to the

Secretary of State for housing,

communities and will and to resolve

this issue.

Come to Yorkshire and

talk to our local enterprise

partnerships and explain why the

Midlands, the North and the regions

will be in better disappointed

territory after Brexit.

He is

talking manufacturing down. It is

doing incredibly well in the North

of England. He will also be aware

that we are determined to deliver

across the country with our

industrial strategy.

I know the

honourable lady has a keen interest

in the subject and we have met to

discuss the impact on many of her

constituents. Our assessments

detailed in the report at the end of

last year was published in a nuclear

safeguard report in December. My

door is always open to her to

discuss this matter further.

We know

the government is seeking a closer

relationship with Eurotam. But

Oxford need clarity now to plan for

the future. Can the government

categorically say they are seeking

an associate agreement and can the

guarantee they will kick-start that

agreement before the 1st of July?

We

are seeking the closest possible

relationship with Europe and we are

working hard to achieve that

objective.

At a recent meeting which

I cheered, the attitude of the

government to expand its

collaboration in nuclear activity

was well evident.

I thank my

honourable friend for that question.

He has a keen constituency interests

and I'm cream to represent the

interests of his constituents.

Order.

Topical questions, Mark

Menzies. Toyota announced it would

build its new model in Derbyshire.

Most of the engines would come from

the Deeside factory in North Wales.

We published a response to the

Taylor review of modern practices. 1

million vulnerable users would be

safeguarded with a tariff tap.

Domestic gas and electricity bill

was passed into Parliament.

Yesterday, we announced a research

programme into technologies to serve

the ageing population and make sure

that we can benefit from this

encouraging global trend.

I would

like to ask the Secretary of State

what engagement he is having with a

Canadian company called Brookfield,

likely buyer of a manufacturer of

nuclear fuel in my constituency and

provides over 1200 well-paid jobs?

He is a champion for the sector. The

Member for Watford has met with a

vice president of Brookfield and

expressed our continuing support for

Springfield to have a future in

providing fuel for plans was in this

country and overseas.

GKN was forged

in our country's first industrial

revolution and built the tanks used

in the D-Day landings. The

innovative battery technology will

power our future. The industrial

strategy identifies batteries as a

key priority, yet the Secretary of

State has nothing to do about the

hostile takeover of this great firm.

Will he and to this question, why is

it that with arm and Unilever, all

too often the Secretary of State's

industrial strategy seems to leave

great British success story is less

great or less British?

The

honourable lady I would've thought

would have informed herself as to

the responsibility of ministers

under the enterprise act. The

enterprise act 2000 to pass under

the Labour government requires that

ministers can only intervene in

mergers that raise public interest

concerns on the grounds of national

security, financial stability and

media plurality. That she should

know that the government's forms of

corporate governments have made sure

that GKN had longer to prepare their

defence, preventing the kind of

smash and grab raid under the

previous government. Provision has

been made for a legally binding

undertakings which are intended to

be used and I would be surprised and

disappointed if any bidder did not

make their intentions clear and

legally binding.

Can he assure me

that protected status for Cornish

produce like the Cornish pasty will

not be compromised post Brexit?

It

is said that I am no stranger to a

fish supper, or a Cornish pasty. All

of those products will achieve UK

geographical indications, will

continue to be protected in the UK

after EU exit. As negotiations are

ongoing, I cannot right now give her

a cast iron assurance that UK

products will remain protected in

the EU a exit, but I can

categorically state that this is the

government's clear objective.

The BT

Sport call centre has been brought

to my attention. They are paying the

minimum wage to agency workers

beyond 12 weeks using a Swedish

derogation. The Taylor report talked

about getting rid of the Swedish

derogation. When the government

going to act to protect some of our

lowest paid workers?

We are acting

right now. Is a consultation under

way right now that discusses exactly

that. That discusses the Swedish

derogation. Businesses should be

under no doubt. This government

expect everyone to be paid the

National minimum wage or the

national living wage, that's why we

have doubled the amount of

enforcement, that's why we have

protected the pay of 98,000 workers

and why we are absolutely committed

that everybody gets paid the

national minimum wage.

Retention of

payment in the construction industry

is affecting many small firms across

the UK. When will the government

deal with this issue?

The government

is determined to improve payment

plans. We understand the tensions

cause problems in the supply chain.

We consulted on cat protection and

are considering responses to assess

the extent of the issues and what

further intervention is required.

Does he agree with me that the

overwhelming evidence shows that

migrant workers including EU

nationals make a hugely positive

contribution to business, the

economy, public finances and did not

undermine wages?

I think we all

recognise that whether it is in

business or in the public services,

the contribution made by workers

from the EU is extremely positive

and I endorse that.

According to

tidal energy industry leaders, sell

pot is considered one of the best

locations in the UK for a tidal

lagoon. Would he meet with me to

discuss bringing tidal energy to

Southport?

I will be delighted to

meet with him. I should point out

that the particular lagoon project

in his constituency is currently not

part of the proposal being put

forward by the company promoting

other...

Last year, the government

raised business rates on rooftop

solar schemes by up to 800%. Now it

appears that on-site battery storage

is likely to go the same way. Given

that gas, heating and power has been

exempt from business rates,

shouldn't the government do the same

first-order and battery storage?

In

the last two years, our solar

capacity has increased by more than

30 years so clearly we are bringing

forward the schemes and he would

know we are looking closely at ways

to reduce some of the disincentives

about on-site storage. I'm happy to

meet with him to discuss this

further.

Does the Minister I agree

with me that the South West is a

great region? I met with the

business commerce to promote North

Devon as the region's economic

powerhouse.

The south-west is a

great region for doing business.

Chambers of commerce, including

Barnstable which has served the

community since 1911, have a

valuable role to play in supporting

local businesses and making sure

their voices heard. That's why it

Chambers of Commons 11 week -- 11

times in the seven weeks I have been

in this role.

Why despite being the

most popular and one of the cheapest

sources of clean energy is solar

power excluded from clean Power

options from the last three years?

And wide as it continued to be

excluded when the industry is

clearly at a disadvantage?

We're

looking at ways to bring forward all

forms of renewable energy and were

now up to 30% of energy generation

in this country from renewables. We

haven't yet taking decisions about

future contracts, but we intend to

do so.

The banking scandals that RBS

destroyed thousands of businesses.

The owners of those businesses have

no means of justice or recompense.

With the Minister support the

all-party group for fear business

banking's proposal for a wee dress

to an independent system of tribunal

is?

Let me pay tribute to the work

of the APPG for fear business

banking of which my honourable

friend is the joint chair. I met

with them last week to explore the

options he discusses. I share the

aim that small businesses should

have an accessible and impartial

forum for which to seek redress when

things go wrong. There is work to be

done about payments and legislation,

but I look forward to working with

him.

The 220 people at work at GKN

Aerospace in my constituency bridges

windshields for military aircraft as

well as commercial ones. Isn't this

a further indication that the

hostile takeover bid raises national

security implications and will the

Secretary of State intervene under

the enterprise act?

I have to make

sure that I don't prejudice any

assessment. At I set out the

constraints to his honourable

friend.

A review published in last

October said manufacturing sectors

in my constituency could be

transformed under the industrial

strategy.

I met with the Chief

Executive of Siemens UK to discuss

this. At a recent dinner, my right

honourable friend the Secretary of

State asked Sir Mark Walport to work

on the investment in digitisation of

our industrial strategy.

What work

is being done to ensure that the

charging points are more frequently

powered by renewable foresees?

He

makes an excellent point. Part of

our industrial strategy is to bring

together the energy sector and the

automotive sector, someone

reinforces the other. That is the

Faraday challenge which is

attracting so much attention in both

industries.

Can my right honourable

friend reassure the House of the

efforts he is making to secure

exemption for UK produce steel and

aluminium products from the

imposition of tariffs from the

United States?

I can assure the

right honourable friend that I was

in Brussels last week meeting trade

union leaders and representatives of

employers to make sure we do exactly

what he says.

The bases select

committee of heard powerful evidence

of why the government should call in

the Melrose bid for GKN on national

security grounds and the Secretary

of State for defence has written to

the Business Secretary. So will the

Secretary of State use those powers

before it is too late to protect

this great British engineering

giant?

I will look carefully and seriously

consider that evidence.

The door is

still open to the benefits of marine

energy so would he commit to see

Charles Hendry, author of the review

which are still awaiting a response

from the Government 14 months and,

as Chair of the party groups and

representatives of tidal lagoon and

tidal stream?

We continue to commit

to support our marine energy

industry. I referred the honourable

gentleman to the answer my right

honourable friend gave at the start

of questions, we continue to

exchange information with the Welsh

Government, we need to understand

what is on offer and need to reach

the right decision.

The county in

which I live have only two

electronic charging points. If the

Minister able to set charging points

for rural and urban areas?

It is

true that the charging network needs

to extend right across the country

if people are to have the confidence

that they will be able to recharge

their vehicle and the rural aspect

is very much in mind.

According to

the press, the Secretary of State

gave a presentation to the

subcommittee of the Cabinet about

the automotive Section and how

important it was that we do not have

a hard Brexit. It seems to have

persuaded those people of the

Cabinet that it might be a good idea

for a hard Brexit that it would in

fact be a very bad idea for British

business, notably the automotive

sector. On that basis, could the

Secretary of State make it available

to all members, honourable and right

honourable?

It would be wrong of me

to disclose what's our conversations

are in Cabinet. She understands the

collective responsibility but it is

no secret to anyone in this House

that I regard the success of the

automotive sector depending on

integrated supply chains as being

good evidence of what type of trade

agreement is needed. It was

referenced, indeed highlighted, in

the