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Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
10 November 2020
Lead MP
Margaret Greenwood
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
EconomyEmploymentClimateNorthern IrelandBusiness & Trade
Other Contributors: 58
At a Glance
Margaret Greenwood raised concerns about business, energy and industrial strategy 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:
Government Response
Responded to various questions by highlighting government support measures for self-employed individuals, manufacturing sector, vaccine development, and emphasised the commitment to creating green jobs. Acknowledges the valuable work of Young Enterprise in educating young people about enterprise. Supports rural skills development by collaboration with education colleagues. Addressed concerns over fire and rehire tactics, emphasising the importance of flexible labour markets. Provided updates on support measures for businesses during covid-19 including financial assistance, discussions with retail sector representatives, and extension of moratoriums. Replied to several questions about achieving net zero emissions target by highlighting investments in electric vehicle infrastructure and offshore wind projects. Discussed the importance of maintaining UK supply chains for offshore wind deployment. Congratulated Jess Stone, acknowledged work on apprenticeships. Addressed issues concerning Rolls-Royce workers' strike, Barnoldswick site job retention, showrooms reopening plans, vaccine manufacturing location choices, and Northern Ireland trade concerns.
Asked about discussions with Cabinet colleagues on support for self-employed people during the covid-19 outbreak and questioned why 1.6 million self-employed people were excluded from government support.
Wendy Chamberlain
Lib Dem
North East Fife
Asked about recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on Government support for self-employed people during the pandemic, and suggested expanding support in light of a potential vaccine breakthrough.
Announced that £13.2 billion has been provided through the self-employment income support scheme and extended the scheme until April 2021 to provide an extra £7.3 billion for the self-employed from November to January.
Pressed the Secretary of State on why those excluded from support were not given assistance despite being told about it for seven months.
Nusrat Ghani
Con
Sussex Weald
Asked what steps his Department is taking to support the manufacturing sector and specifically requested further assurances on behalf of local chambers of commerce in her constituency regarding small and medium-sized firms.
Inquired about additional support for Rolls-Royce, ensuring that any assistance would directly benefit the recovery of domestic civil aerospace manufacturing.
Sought additional support for energy-intensive industries to maintain competitiveness and invest in improved efficiency.
Ed Miliband
Lab
Doncaster North
Challenged the Government's commitment to a green stimulus, citing examples of more ambitious commitments from other countries compared to Britain’s pledge of £5 billion.
Darren Jones
Lab
Bristol North West
Called for the dismissal of Kate Bingham from her role in the vaccine taskforce due to misuse of public funds and conflict of interest concerns.
Amanda Solloway
Con
West Suffolk
Acknowledges the work of Young Enterprise and its contribution to education in enterprise and financial skills. She mentions meeting with Ministerial colleagues to discuss the scheme's impact on young people.
Chris Loder
Con
West Dorset
Questions how the Minister is supporting young people in rural areas, such as those who participated in Young Enterprise, and asks about incorporating non-cognitive skills development into the industrial strategy.
Richard Graham
Con
Gloucester
Asks what recent steps have been taken by the Department to support innovation and new technologies. Commends government investment but questions if key technology assets should be retained for national interests, particularly in light of a proposed sale.
Yvette Cooper
Lab
Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Asks about discussions with the Chancellor regarding support for businesses affected by COVID-19 restrictions leading up to Christmas. Raises concerns about automation's impact on employment in the hospitality and retail sectors.
Bill Esterson
Lab
Sefton Central
Questions recent assessments made of business sectors most impacted by the pandemic, particularly noting that many individuals are excluded from support schemes like furlough or self-employment grants.
Lucy Powell
Lab/Co-op
Manchester Central
Expresses concern over rising unemployment figures and calls for a more proactive approach to protecting key industries and promoting green renewal in the face of economic crisis.
Anna McMorrin
Lab
Cardiff North
Asks about steps being taken to reduce employer use of 'dismiss and re-engage' tactics, which she describes as exploitative during the pandemic.
Kim Johnson
Lab
Liverpool Riverside
Supports efforts against employers using fire-and-rehire tactics and calls for legislative action to protect workers from these practices.
Questions the Department's response to employers' use of dismiss and re-engage tactics, particularly as demonstrated by Heathrow airport staff facing pressure to accept new terms and conditions under threat of dismissal.
Paul Scully
Con
Addressed concerns about fire and rehire tactics, emphasising the need for employers to treat employees fairly while maintaining flexibility in labour markets.
Alan Whitehead
Lab
Called on the Minister to condemn the use of fire and rehire tactics by companies like British Gas, describing it as a medieval tactic that undermines workers' rights.
Beth Winter
Lab
Questioned whether it is morally defensible for workers to be asked to accept reduced pay and conditions given the profits being made by companies such as Centrica, demanding action from the Minister.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon and Consett
Asked about discussions with retail sector representatives regarding the impact of covid-19 on employment in her constituency and requested further support for businesses struggling to pay rent and bills due to closures.
Nickie Aiken
Con
Discussed the importance of independent bookshops during lockdown and questioned whether it would be preferable to allow local shops to remain open rather than relying on global brands.
Julian Sturdy
Con
York Outer
Asked for assurances that businesses, especially in hospitality sectors, will be able to reopen by 2 December and highlighted the importance of certainty around planning during this period.
Ben Spencer
Con
Runnymede and Weybridge
Emphasised the need for long-term planning and clarity regarding future restrictions to help businesses plan ahead, particularly those in sectors such as weddings and logistics.
Tom Hunt
Lab
Ipswich
Raised concerns about insurers refusing to pay out on insurance policies due to income loss from the pandemic, specifically mentioning a case involving New India insurers and the Arcade Tavern pub.
Ruth Jones
Lab
Newport West and Islwyn
Asked for steps being taken to support marine renewable energy development and questioned how workers affected by changes in maritime energy industries would be supported during transition periods.
Daniel Poulter
Con
Central Suffolk and Ipswich
Inquired about plans for adequate Government scrutiny of the Sizewell C nuclear power station development consent order application.
Daniel Poulter
Con
Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
Asked about the benefits of Sizewell C in Suffolk, including increased employment opportunities and its role in decarbonisation. Raised concerns over EDF's engagement with local consultation processes.
Nadhim Zahawi
Con
Stratford-on-Avon
Reassured the hon. Member that proposals for mitigating potential impacts of Sizewell C will be considered and local people and bodies will have opportunities to make representations.
Christchurch
Inquired about steps his Department is taking to achieve the net zero emissions target by 2050, advocating for regulatory reform to encourage investment in electric vehicle infrastructure.
Roxburgh and Berwickshire
Asked similar questions about achieving the net zero emissions target, highlighting the role of offshore wind and carbon capture mechanisms in contributing towards this goal.
Greenwich and Woolwich
Discussed the importance of maximising benefits from green transition for public support. Highlighted the plight of BiFab engineering yards, which represent a failure to utilise industrial strategy effectively.
Central Ayrshire
Asked about discussions with the Chancellor regarding increasing support for businesses affected by covid-19. Raised concerns over a pub owner's inability to access bounce back loans due to bank restrictions.
Peter Grant
LD
Gordon
Inquired about discussions with the Chancellor on supporting businesses impacted by the pandemic, and about using information from Companies House for identifying small businesses excluded from support.
Owen Thompson
SNP
Midlothian
Welcomed extension of furlough but suggested looking at failures within business interruption loan schemes. Asked if analysis was done on offering grants instead of loans to businesses.
Jeff Smith
Lab
Manchester Withington
Asked the Secretary of State for a statement on departmental responsibilities, emphasising the need for broader geographical support and strategic approach in economic opportunities.
Jack Lopresti
Con
Filton
Congratulated Jess Stone, an Airbus apprentice from Filton who is a finalist in the Make UK engineering apprentice awards. Emphasised the importance of supporting aerospace for economy and social mobility.
Grahame Morris
Lab
Easington
Discussed Rolls-Royce workers' strike at Barnoldswick site, fighting to save jobs. Asked if Government support should be conditional on preventing offshore job transfers.
Asked about the plan to relaunch sales and drive footfall after lockdown to help struggling high streets.
Andrew Bowie
Con
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Asked for an update on the oil and gas transition deal, important for net zero goals and preserving jobs in the sector.
Justin Madders
Lab
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Questioned the sense of allowing manufacturers to stay open while showrooms remain closed, affecting Vauxhall Motors' future.
Asked when the Government would report back on regulating district energy schemes and outlined a timeline for implementation.
Graham Stringer
Lab
Blackley and Middleton South
Inquired why vaccine manufacturing investment was not in northern England regions, instead located in Braintree.
Alicia Kearns
Con
Rutland and Stamford
Thanked food businesses for protecting employees during the pandemic and asked about steps taken to safeguard supply chains.
Asked for a meeting with the all-party parliamentary group on green deal mis-selling and urged resolution of the complaints process.
Highlighted inadequacy of support received by specific local businesses during pandemic restrictions and requested better support through next phase.
Judith Cummins
Lab
Bradford South
Asked for VAT cuts extension to hair, beauty, spa and wellbeing businesses similar to those extended to hospitality sector.
Inquired about the development of a horizontal satellite launch facility in Spaceport Cornwall as part of UK Government’s space ambitions.
Carla Lockhart
DUP
Upper Bann
Asked for assurances regarding goods availability and costs in Northern Ireland post-Brexit under new trade arrangements.
Daniel Poulter
Con
South Norfolk
Asked about additional support for the hospitality industry, particularly pubs and wedding companies, during Christmas and early part of the new year due to difficult circumstances caused by covid.
Reassured that as businesses move into tiered areas from national restrictions on 2 December, support is available, including grants up to £3,000 per month and an additional £1.1 billion fund for local authorities.
Tonia Antoniazzi
Lab
Gower
Called for a judge-led inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal due to over 900 false prosecutions, suggesting that it is the only way many sub-postmasters will be satisfied.
Confirmed that Sir Wyn Williams, a former judge, was appointed to lead the inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal and encouraged representatives of sub-postmasters to meet him for engagement.
Ben Everitt
Con
North East Hertfordshire
Praised Dynamic Imaging Analytics in Milton Keynes for their work with space technology, including mining water on the moon, and invited the Minister to join in congratulating them.
Congratulated the Open University on its recent successes in space research, noting £1.5 million investment for this year in Open University space activities, including PROSPECT instruments.
Alison McGovern
Lab
Birkenhead
Asked about protecting skilled jobs while companies adapt to changes facilitated by new technologies and the impact of covid, suggesting a need for investment in people alongside digital infrastructure.
Agreed that good jobs should be created and preserved, emphasising the importance of productivity improvement strategies as part of their work.
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