Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Industrial Strategy

Wednesday 4 September 2024 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The government will introduce a new industrial strategy to drive long-term, sustainable growth in Scotland and the UK.
  • The Secretary of State will meet the principals of all Scotland's universities to deepen and strengthen relationships by the end of next week.
  • The Secretary of State committed to meeting with the management, workers, and MP from Livingston to discuss support for the Mitsubishi Electric plant facing workforce reductions.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gregor Poynton Lab Livingston
Scotland Business & Trade
Context

No specific background event or incident is mentioned. The question is about ongoing discussions regarding an industrial strategy.

Question

What discussions has the government had with the Scottish Government on a new industrial strategy?

Answer from Ian Murray

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific discussions or concrete plans were not detailed.

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Q2 Martin Rhodes Lab Glasgow North
Education Scotland Business & Trade
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Ian Murray

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or commitments were not detailed.

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Q3 Frank McNally Lab Coatbridge and Bellshill
Climate Scotland Business & Trade
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Ian Murray

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or commitments were not detailed.

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Q4 Gregor Poynton Lab Livingston
Employment Business & Trade
Context

Mitsubishi Electric's workforce in Livingston is facing a reduction of 440 workers due to reduced orders.

Question

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?

Answer from Ian Murray

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.

Answered
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Q5 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Climate Energy Business & Trade
Context

No specific background event or incident is mentioned. The question is about the potential for development of tidal stream generation.

Question

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?

Answer from Ian Murray

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or commitments were not detailed.

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Q6 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Education Economy Scotland Business & Trade
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Ian Murray

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific discussions with the Chancellor about the impact of cutting £800 million from a supercomputer project at the University of Edinburgh were not addressed.

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