Growing the UK Economy 2025-01-29

The Government will accelerate economic growth by focusing on inclusive regional development, fostering international investment through the Office for Investment, promoting advanced manufacturing in Wrexham and Flintshire with £1 billion of private investment to create 6,000 jobs. Additionally, the Government aims to leverage the potential of cities like Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, and Glasgow, supporting their economic growth through infrastructure projects such as mass transit systems in West Yorkshire.

The Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor is a priority area for economic development. The Government will establish a new growth commission to unlock opportunities and promote the region’s potential internationally, with an expected GDP boost of £78 billion by 2035. Additionally, the Government supports expanding Heathrow airport with a third runway to enhance UK's connectivity and trade opportunities.

The Government will further support sustainable aviation fuel through an additional £63 million fund for advanced fuels, aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 70%. Additionally, the Government is committed to improving local transportation infrastructure, such as upgrading A428 and delivering East West Rail services between Oxford and Milton Keynes.

The Government will facilitate development in Cambridge by lifting objections from the Environment Agency for specific developments. This includes plans to develop 4,500 additional homes, new schools, and office spaces along with £7.9 billion of water resource investments.

The Government’s failure to act means that businesses and millions of people are paying the price, so can the Chief Secretary to the Treasury commit today to matching that £12 billion, or can he at least tell us the scale of savings that we can expect from his promised reforms?

I welcome this Government’s commitment to infrastructure investment and to telling the world that Britain is open for business, but to achieve all of this, we will need a really skilled workforce to deliver on those major construction projects. May I ask my right hon. Friend to set out how the Government will ensure that we have the skills to deliver what he has promised?

The Government are absolutely right to focus on economic growth, but their blinkered approach on Europe is holding back British businesses and stifling the very growth that we need to fund our public services. By ruling out negotiations with the EU on a bespoke customs union and a youth mobility scheme, the Chancellor’s dash for growth will be more like a slow crawl in a car with the handbrake on.

Heathrow expansion will help businesses in the north-east, but for the sake of those of us who are not Manchester United fans, will the Chief Secretary to the Treasury make it clear that much of the investment in the Man U development will be private sector-based? Will he also set out how that will help the rest of the north, particularly Newcastle United fans such as myself?

Welcomes the announcement of £1 billion going to the manufacturing and logistics hub at East Midlands airport, emphasising its potential to benefit local constituencies. Acknowledges the government's commitment to unlocking growth in regions like the East Midlands.

Supports investment for economic prosperity and job creation, highlighting low investment rates and poor infrastructure in his region. Welcomes £1 billion investment at East Midlands airport which will provide 2,000 jobs.

Asks the Chief Secretary to urge the Oxford growth commission to look into doubling train frequency on the North Cotswold line connecting Worcestershire and Oxford.

Questions the role of new towns in tackling the housing crisis, emphasising the need for social infrastructure alongside home delivery plans.

Queries about concrete proposals from financial services regulators to unlock investment and inquires about timelines for tangible economic impact following recent announcements.

Welcomes the Chancellor’s announcement but raises concerns over predictions of a 24% cut in flights between regional airports and Heathrow, questioning how this will be optimized for UK-wide growth.

Questions the government's choice to support Heathrow expansion over sustainable rail projects, highlighting potential consequences for net zero targets.

Welcomes the commitment to a 10-year transport infrastructure plan and asks about addressing connectivity and capacity challenges north of Birmingham following HS2 cancellation.

Critiques the lack of mention for the lower Thames crossing in the statement, questioning why the government is not addressing real issues like business taxes.

Welcomes the Chief Secretary's statement but calls for a full cost-benefit analysis of Heathrow’s third runway, considering climate, health, and transport infrastructure impacts.

Questions the Chancellor's assurance that further investment in airport capacity will drive high economic returns, given previous evidence suggesting otherwise.

Welcomed the Chancellor's speech on Old Trafford redevelopment and invited the Minister to visit Luton for its housing and commercial development, which will support economic growth in the region.

Critiqued the decision on Heathrow's third runway, urging transparency about carbon emissions, agricultural impacts, noise issues, and rehousing plans for affected constituents.

Noted that while the statement was intended to promote UK-wide economic growth, it focused primarily on England. He called for more specific details about Scottish investments and mentioned missed opportunities in Wrexham, Glasgow, Edinburgh University, Grangemouth, and the north-east.

Welcomed the growth plan but urged support for Rochdale's Atom Valley mayoral development zone to aid advanced manufacturing in the area.

Called for a direct train service between Cleethorpes, Grimsby, and King’s Cross to boost his constituency's local economy. He requested that the Transport Secretary give this project the go-ahead.

Called for investment in Bedford with a Universal Studios theme park proposal, which has potential to transform the region economically.

Welcomed Government support but suggested renaming the growth commission as the Oxfordshire commission due to its focus outside of Oxford city. She invited the Minister to meet Liberal Democrat colleagues for collaboration.

Supported Old Trafford redevelopment benefits and asked how awarded contracts would ensure local employment, training, and retention opportunities.

Challenged the Minister's claim of credit for completing East West Rail construction under previous governments. He opposed a top-down approach to growth, advocating for local leadership in the Oxford-Cambridge area.

Suggested creating more homes and infrastructure around existing commuter lines like the Bolton-to-Manchester line to stimulate growth.

Noted lack of mention for south-west in the statement and requested a visit to Tech Trowbridge initiative, which aims to foster conditions for regional economic growth.

Welcomed Government's commitment to tear down barriers to growth daily. He asked how the pilot announced by the Office for Investment would benefit his constituents in Wirral West.

Concerned that Scottish constituents feel left out due to lack of investment in AI and research. Questions whether expansion at Heathrow will negatively impact Edinburgh without a proper emissions management plan.

Calls for action to block the blockers and deliver growth, emphasising the need for government intervention to unleash the country's potential.

Raises concerns about the national insurance rise negatively impacting local businesses and employment. Asks if the OBR’s forecast that the jobs tax will harm growth is accurate.

Questions whether expanding airports aligns with climate goals, citing analysis showing expansion would require a significant amount of forest to offset emissions.

Expresses skepticism about the long-term nature of announced projects and asks what is being done for Northern Ireland's economy in light of anti-growth policies.

Welcomes investment in Rolls-Royce Submarines and agrees that working with manufacturing companies is crucial to delivering economic growth.

Critiques various measures such as property relief reduction, national insurance increase, minimum wage hike, and the Employment Rights Bill, questioning their impact on business growth.

Thanks Treasury for supporting Teesside’s sustainable aviation fuel industry and asks Chief Secretary to deliver a message that Teesside is open for investment in this sector.

Welcomes commitment to Oxfordshire science centres but questions the £2.2 billion cost of SESRO, suggesting it could be better spent tackling leaks and reducing water demand.

Asks how the national wealth fund and strategic partnership in West Yorkshire will benefit Leeds and northern Lincolnshire through growth agreements and sharing proceeds of growth.

The MP criticises Labour's economic policies, citing negative impacts on businesses and services in his constituency due to the 'jobs tax' and inheritance taxes. He expresses concern over school closures and job losses.

The MP questions whether the decision regarding Heathrow expansion is overdue, citing historical investment levels in different regions of the UK. He also asks about redundancies reported by employers since the Budget announcement.

Asks for specific investments planned for mid and west Wales under the government's plans, highlighting previous unfulfilled promises.

Calls on the Chief Secretary to embrace technological progress and establish an AI growth zone in his constituency.

Queries about the status of negotiations with Universal Studios for investment in his constituency, expressing surprise at not hearing government support for such a project.

Thanks Ministers for announcing the lower Thames crossing and asks about progress on securing private finance to make it a reality.

Asks what support small businesses will receive, especially in his constituency which has over 600 small enterprises.

Agrees that the Heathrow expansion announcement signals growth to international investors and Scottish exporters. He contrasts this with the 'gloom and doom' from the SNP.

Expresses concern over economic output in Northern Ireland, citing protocol-supplied red tape that hampers business growth.

Welcomes the Minister to his constituency and seeks details on how the national wealth fund will establish partnerships in Essex, including Southend East and Rochford.

Praises Labour's stance as a party of builders rather than blockers. He notes that the Conservatives could have taken similar decisions but chose not to due to internal conflicts.

Highlights the neglect of heavy industries like metals and chemicals by the previous government, emphasising their potential for international investment and job creation.

The Conservative government ignored the economic needs of the Hexham constituency for 14 years. Businesses and young people in my area are desperate to grow, invest and remain there. I invite the Minister to visit Hexham to see growth opportunities in the Tyne valley.

The development consent order for the lower Thames crossing has not yet been granted, and the project will only proceed if mitigations and protections are in place for Gravesham residents, including local air quality issues, skills training hubs, free travel discounts, and road impact assessments.

The west midlands is a car manufacturing hub. I welcome the Government's investment in electric vehicle infrastructure today, which will support EV adoption, green transition, and economic growth for the region.

The Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor is vital to bringing expertise from Peterborough into advanced manufacturing and logistics in Cambridge. Enhanced transport connectivity will benefit the broader region's economic development.

Increased capacity at Heathrow Airport is vital for boosting economic growth in the north-east of England by connecting businesses to global markets, which will benefit Newcastle International airport as well.

This Government's 'build, baby, build' approach contrasts with Labour’s previous inaction. There is active private sector interest in the lower Thames crossing project, which will benefit Kent and Essex.

Ports play a significant role in logistics and trade for our economy; we need a national strategy to make the most of them, ensuring coastal communities can participate in growth strategies and help rebalance the economy.

The Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor is critical for my constituents' economic opportunities. The East-West Rail link will be crucial to unlocking further development, and I support the infrastructure emphasis in the Government's strategy.

A third runway at Heathrow is essential for Scottish exports and tourism. Increased connectivity will facilitate growth for world-class products like Aberdeen Angus beef, Orkney seafood, and whisky from my constituency.

British manufacturing, such as Alexander Dennis electric buses built in Scarborough, is key to economic growth. Government support for British manufacturers through mayoral commitments on bus purchases is vital.

The unsafe Gateshead flyover closure blocks housing development and town centre redevelopment; I urge the Minister to prioritise such projects as a way of unlocking further economic growth across the country.

Nutrient neutrality rules are blocking prison construction and 150,000 homes. I ask for Government commitment to review these rules speedily, balancing environmental protection with economic growth.