Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Manufacturing: West Midlands

Thursday 13 March 2025 · 2 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Shaun Davies raised concerns about the uneven playing field for manufacturing pay rates and regulations in the West Midlands.
  • The Minister acknowledged the need to protect and grow the highly skilled workforce in advanced manufacturing jobs in the West Midlands.
  • Sir Gavin Williamson highlighted the potential impact of US tariffs on manufacturers in Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Shaun Davies Lab Telford
Business & Trade
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.

Question

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?

Answer from The Minister for Industry (Sarah Jones)

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.

Answered
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Q2 Gavin Williamson Con Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge
Business & Trade
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.

Question

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?

Answer from The Minister for Industry (Sarah Jones)

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific details on actions taken to mitigate potential tariff impacts.

How: We Will Keep Talking

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