Economic Productivity 2024-10-29
2024-10-29
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the need to increase economic productivity in the Black Country, an area with specific economic challenges.
What steps she is taking to increase economic productivity in the Black Country?
Increasing economic productivity is a key mission in the Labour Government's growth agenda. After 14 years of weak productivity, depressed living standards and unfunded spending commitments, we are adamant about bringing our country into an upward trajectory, using the national wealth fund and the significant planning reforms that we are bringing together to ensure a decade of national renewal for our country.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific steps or timeline mentioned for Black Country specifically
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The hospitality sector generates £93 billion per year in the UK and plays a significant role in the local economy of Stevenage.
Across the UK, the hospitality sector generates £93 billion per year. In my constituency, there are many examples of local entrepreneurs, including on the old town's High Street and in our neighbourhood centres, who provide an excellent service for residents and visitors alike. What can my hon. Friend do to help our hospitality services grow in Stevenage and across the UK?
I am fully aware of the assets of my hon. Friend's constituency, including the neighbourhood centres that he mentions, and the surrounding villages, which host amazing music festivals. I recognise the contribution of the hospitality sector in Stevenage to the UK economy, and I know he is a great champion of the borough business club. I am confident that our Government's growth mission will ensure that hospitality businesses in Stevenage continue to grow. The Government look forward to working with organisations such as UKHospitality to facilitate that.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific actions or funding mentioned for the local hospitality sector
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK's modern industrial strategy identifies advanced manufacturing as a growth-driving sector. Manufacturing in Dudley accounts for 40.4% of jobs, more than double the national average.
"Invest 2035: the UK's modern industrial strategy" identifies advanced manufacturing as a growth-driving sector. Manufacturing in Dudley accounts for 40.4% of jobs; that is double the national average. What steps are the Government taking to support and revitalise the manufacturing sector in Dudley, given its historical significance to the local economy, and its potential contribution to the UK's overall industrial strategy?
As my hon. Friend rightly says, we identified advanced manufacturing as a growth-driving sector in the recently published industrial strategy Green Paper. I know how important manufacturing centres such as the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre are to Dudley and the UK economy. We are committed to supporting advanced manufacturing through the industrial strategy, which, alongside sector plans, will be developed in partnership with businesses and stakeholders ahead of publication in spring 2025. I hope that she will contribute to that. Jobs will be at the heart of our industrial strategy, backed by employment rights that are fit for a modern economy.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific steps or timeline mentioned for supporting manufacturing in Dudley specifically
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Investing in transport infrastructure is crucial for boosting productivity, and the Ely junction rail upgrade could deliver significant benefits.
Investing in transport infrastructure will boost productivity, so is the Chancellor listening to Members from across the east of England and across the House, and will she back the Ely junction rail upgrade, which delivers benefits of £5 for every £1 invested?
As the hon. Member will know, the Chancellor listens carefully to everything that is said in the Chamber, and I am sure that she has noted what he has said.
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Assessment & feedback
No commitment or timeline for the Ely junction rail upgrade
As The Hon. Member Will Know
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Promises were made about increased inward investment due to dual access to the EU and UK markets, but Invest NI has admitted that there has been no uptick in investment.
We in Northern Ireland were told that, as a result of having dual access to the EU market and the United Kingdom market, we would see an increase in inward investment and economic productivity. Recently, Invest NI has had to admit that there has been no uptick in investment, because access to the EU market is counteracted by barriers from the GB market—that is clear. Do the Government now recognise that that was a mis-sold proposition?
I think we were mis-sold a lot of things by the previous Government, if that is what the hon. Member is talking about. I remind him that we had the investment summit recently, where we secured £63 billion of private investment, creating more than 38,000 jobs. That is more than double what the previous Government secured in 2023.
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Assessment & feedback
No recognition of mis-selling propositions; instead attacked the previous government
I Remind Him That We Were Mis-Sold A Lot Of Things By The Previous Government
Response accuracy