Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Business Confidence

Thursday 30 January 2025 · 3 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Business leaders have backed government measures for growth, including plans to boost capital investment by over 100 billion over the next five years.
  • Discussions with the Minister for Skills aim to reform the growth and skills levy, making it easier for businesses to recruit apprentices and find the talent they need.
  • Measures announced recently are driving growth forward and have been strongly backed by businesses, according to the government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Whittingdale Con Maldon
Economy Business & Trade
Context

The CBI, the Institute of Directors and the London chamber of commerce have all recently stated that business confidence is plummeting due to increases in national insurance contributions, business rates, and employment costs.

Question

Given the recent statements from the CBI, the IoD and the London Chamber of Commerce about plummeting business confidence, is it surprising that this has happened with a tsunami of NICs, business rates and employment cost rises? Are the Government actually destroying growth rather than promoting it?

Answer from Gareth Thomas

Business leaders have backed our measures for growth, including plans to boost capital investment by over £100 billion over the next five years. The BCC, CBI and FSB made positive comments about our plans, and PwC's annual survey of global CEOs ranked Britain second in attractiveness for investment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not directly address the plummeting business confidence mentioned by the CBI, IoD, and London Chamber of Commerce.

How: Changing Subject

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Q2 Catherine Atkinson Lab Derby North
Employment Business & Trade
Context

Rolls-Royce has a nuclear skills academy providing talent for its workforce, highlighting the need for businesses to have skilled workers to grow.

Question

Business confidence increases when businesses know they have the skilled workforce needed. What cross-departmental discussions have Ministers had about helping businesses of all sizes provide opportunities for skill development?

Answer from Gareth Thomas

Discussions with the Minister for Skills aim to reform the growth and skills levy, making it easier for businesses like Rolls-Royce to recruit apprentices and find the talent they need. The nuclear skills academy at Rolls-Royce is a positive example of such initiatives.

Answered
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Q3 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Economy Business & Trade
Context

UK car production is at its lowest since 1954, with Autocar magazine warning that the zero emission vehicle mandate is causing industry headaches due to lack of consumer demand.

Question

Given low consumer confidence and a drop in UK car production to its lowest level since 1954, why does the Minister persist in a policy undermining automotive businesses by forcing them to produce products consumers do not want? Is it time for a different path to boost business confidence?

Answer from Gareth Thomas

The policy was introduced by the Conservative party. The Liz Truss Budget damaged the country, but measures announced recently are driving growth forward and have been backed strongly by businesses. Nissan and other car manufacturers have also announced extra investment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not directly address the request to reconsider the zero emission vehicle mandate given its impact on consumer confidence.

How: Changing Subject

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