Manufacturing West Midlands 2025-03-13
2025-03-13
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Shaun Davies highlights the strong and proud British manufacturing base in Telford and the wider West Midlands. He mentions that businesses face challenges due to uneven playing fields with international competitors.
In Telford and the wider west midlands, we have a strong and proud British manufacturing base as outlined by the Minister. One of the biggest challenges I hear from businesses is the uneven playing field between us and the rest of the world on pay rates and regulation. Clearly no one wants a race to the bottom, so will the Government back British business to ensure that we sell more, make more, and do that in the west midlands and Telford in particular?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right; we do not want a race to the bottom. Advanced manufacturing jobs in the west midlands are well paid for a reason: there is a very highly skilled workforce and we want to protect and grow that. He is right that there is more that we can do. Some £2 billion was set aside in the Budget for the automotive sector and just shy of £1 billion for aerospace. That will help; however, we can further reduce barriers, whether around regulation, planning or trading and export, and we are working as fast as we can to do just that.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Sir Gavin Williamson points out that Staffordshire and the West Midlands are the only part of the country that is a net exporter of manufactured goods. He raises concerns about potential impacts from tariffs imposed by Trump.
In Staffordshire and the west midlands, we are the only part of the country that is a net exporter of manufactured goods. The threat from Trump on tariffs could have a significant impact on manufacturers right across Staffordshire and the west midlands. What action are the Government taking to ensure that we will continue to export our world-leading products?
The right hon. Gentleman is right that the west midlands is a big exporter to many different countries, including the US and others. Of course, we will keep talking with the US, as the Secretary of State has been doing, and will ensure that we are standing up for British industry and doing the right thing.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide specific details on actions taken to mitigate potential tariff impacts.
We Will Keep Talking
Response accuracy