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Britishvolt
25 January 2023
Lead MP
Ian Lavery
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
EconomyTaxationHousingEmploymentTransportBusiness & Trade
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Ian Lavery raised concerns about britishvolt in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The hon. Member for Wansbeck discusses the collapse of Britishvolt, a gigafactory project in Cambois that promised to create thousands of jobs and transform the local economy. He highlights the Government's failure to support the project adequately and criticises their lack of an industrial strategy for automotive manufacturing. The speech details how the site was prepared over decades by local councils with planning permission and infrastructure, yet the company struggled due to insufficient private investment and a lack of government support beyond £100 million granted from the Automotive Transformation Fund. He emphasises the need for comprehensive government support to attract investors and secure high-quality manufacturing jobs in the region.
Ian Levy
Con
Blyth Valley
The hon. Member for Blyth Valley agrees that Britishvolt's collapse is regrettable but stresses the importance of milestones for public funding and expresses continued support for gigafactory development in the area.
Government Response
The Minister acknowledges Britishvolt's collapse and its impact on employees but emphasises that government support is conditional to protect taxpayers' money. She confirms full due diligence was conducted before offering funds with milestones, none of which were met by the company. The Government remain committed to battery production in the UK and aim for a gigafactory development at Cambois, considering it an ideal site with existing infrastructure and workforce. Despite Britishvolt's failure, efforts continue to attract new investors and support the local economy through various initiatives such as railway improvements and funding allocations from different government schemes.
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Assessment & feedback
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House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.