Industrial Strategy 2024-09-04
2024-09-04
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
No specific background event or incident is mentioned. The question is about ongoing discussions regarding an industrial strategy.
What discussions has the government had with the Scottish Government on a new industrial strategy?
This Government will introduce a new industrial strategy to drive long-term, sustainable growth by securing investment in crucial sectors and industries in all parts of Scotland and the UK. It involves working in close partnership with the Scottish Government to support our national mission to have the highest sustained growth in the G7.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific discussions or concrete plans were not detailed.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
No specific background event or incident is mentioned. The question focuses on the importance of Glasgow's universities in driving a new industrial strategy.
An industrial strategy that embraces the jobs of the future must involve our higher education institutions, including the three world-class universities in Glasgow. What are the Government doing to ensure that this is the case?
Scotland's 19 world-class higher education institutions are an essential part of our economy, culture and global reputation. By the end of next week, I will have met the principals of all Scotland's universities to deepen and strengthen those relationships. The knowledge and expertise of these institutions will be crucial to delivering a new industrial strategy.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps or commitments were not detailed.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
No specific background event or incident is mentioned. The question emphasizes the historical importance of industry in Coatbridge and Bellshill and the need for a sustainable strategy.
Coatbridge and Bellshill has a rich history of heavy industry, but there has been a failure to deliver a long-term, sustainable industrial strategy. What steps will the Secretary of State take to ensure that industrial jobs in Scotland are part of its future?
Scotland and its world-class industrial workforce will play a driving role in our ambition to become a green energy powerhouse. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, the Scottish Government and I met representatives from Petroineos earlier this week to discuss support for sustainable future clusters in the Falkirk and Grangemouth region.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps or commitments were not detailed.
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
Mitsubishi Electric's workforce in Livingston is facing a reduction of 440 workers due to reduced orders.
The Mitsubishi Electric plant in my constituency faces workforce reductions due to economic pressures. May I ask the Secretary of State to meet management, workers and me to see what support can be provided?
I will commit as a matter of priority to a meeting with the company and its workforce in the coming weeks to see what the UK Government can do to support during this difficult time.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
No specific background event or incident is mentioned. The question is about the potential for development of tidal stream generation.
Will the Secretary of State focus his ministerial colleagues' minds on the potential development of tidal stream generation, providing an opportunity for our manufacturing sector to create a UK-based supply chain?
We hope to emulate much of the work that he did. I have met the European Marine Energy Centre and those involved with tidal resources in his constituency. This is critically important to our net zero ambitions and will be top of the agenda when I visit his constituency.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps or commitments were not detailed.
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the UK Government's decision to cut £800 million from a supercomputer project that was previously announced by two Prime Ministers and two Chancellors. The project has potential impacts on research in drug discovery, climate change, and advanced engineering.
I congratulate the Secretary of State and welcome him to his place. I associate myself with his earlier remarks, particularly about Scotland's Olympians and Paralympians. I was delighted to hear the recognition in his first answer of the role that our universities will play in a new industrial strategy, which is going to be vital in Scotland, particularly in the light of the recent admissions about the mess that the Scottish National party has made of our economy in Scotland. That is why I was baffled to see the UK Government cutting £800 million from a supercomputer project at the University of Edinburgh that has the potential to support research on drug discovery, climate change and advanced engineering. What discussions did the Secretary of State have with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the impact of that?
As the hon. Lady will know, the Chancellor of the Exchequer did a full audit of Government spending in the first weekend that she was in office, and found a £22 billion black hole. The exascale computer that she talks about was announced by two previous Prime Ministers and two previous Chancellors, and indeed was in the Budget in the early part of this year, but no money was allocated and therefore the project has been paused, pending both the Budget on 30 October and the spending review next year.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific discussions with the Chancellor about the impact of cutting £800 million from a supercomputer project at the University of Edinburgh were not addressed.
Response accuracy