Topical Questions

Answer from The Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Peter Kyle)

I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s question, and I know that his community will be grateful for his question too. I can assure him that we are working to mobilise the strategic sites accelerator which will operate across the nation. We expect to communicate how and when the programme will deploy in the coming period into spring. As he knows, RAF Wyton is a key site for cyber and specialist operations command. It is an important asset for our nation. I, or the relevant Minister, will of course meet him to discuss how we can better support that site going forward, but already within Government it is a very highly valued asset.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Chris McDonald)

I was pleased to address a meeting of Hydrogen UK just last week, where I reaffirmed Government support for the sector which we have recognised through our industrial strategy and the clean energy industries sector plan. I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss in particular Luxfer’s ambitions to invest more in the UK.

Answer from The Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Peter Kyle)

Again, the Conservatives had 14 years in which the economy was changing. They had the chance to tackle zero-hours contracts, and what did they do? Nothing. They had the chance to tackle fire and rehire, and they did nothing. They had the chance to tackle the challenges of being an app-based employee, and they chose to do nothing. We are acting to modernise the economy and the relationship out there between businesses and workers because that is what is needed. It is what workers and businesses need, and it is what this Government are delivering.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Blair McDougall)

My hon. Friend is a dynamic advocate for a dynamic part of the country in the Thames valley. The industrial strategy and its sector plans highlight the strengths in his area, especially in tech and life sciences. Alongside the national package to grow the sector, specific interventions in the south-east include an AI growth zone in Culham, support for the Solent freeport, expanding the British Business Bank’s nations and regions investment fund and major projects backing the Oxford to Cambridge growth corridor. We will keep working with my hon. Friend to unlock the potential across the south-east.

Answer from Peter Kyle

I can assure the hon. Lady that we are in constant contact with the Energy Secretary. When I was at DSIT, we co-chaired the AI energy council, and we are working together to get the transition to renewable power done as swiftly as possible, generating the wealth that our country needs from the transition period. Also, we are lowering bills and, through some targeted interventions, ensuring that those key businesses get the support they need on the challenges with energy prices and supply.

Answer from Peter Kyle

I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s passionate question. As he will know, we have struck a trade deal with the EU and reset the relationship with it. We will continue to build on that to deliver for all parts of our economy.

Answer from Blair McDougall

As I said to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire (Dame Harriett Baldwin), we are committed to ensuring not just that we work to maintain the post office network, but that we deal with some of those long-standing issues about the viability of the business going forward—issues that the Conservatives had 14 years to fix and did not.

Answer from Chris McDonald

We recognise the importance of the steel industry in Wales and of Trostre in particular, which has more than 70 years of tinplate production and is the only tinning line in the UK. I met the chief executive of Tata Steel this week to discuss this very issue. He referred to a softening in market demand, but fundamentally, this Government are committed to creating a better business environment for steel in the UK, so that it can compete with Europe, including on energy prices.

Answer from Blair McDougall

The hon. Member raises an important point, particularly for small businesses, which rely on those schemes. I pay tribute to the Royal Mail for the speed at which it reacted to those de minimis changes to ensure that businesses were able to continue. We keep working with Royal Mail as well to ensure that that is possible.

Answer from Peter Kyle

I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s question— I am glad he got in today. I can assure him that we are working closely with pubs. We want pubs to be at the beating heart of communities up and down the country. We know we have inherited a challenging environment for pubs. We listen to them and will be acting.

Answer from Chris McDonald

My hon. Friend is a fantastic champion for ceramics. This is only my second time at the Dispatch Box, but it is also the second time that he has asked me about this. He and I have already met to discuss it, and I am happy to have further conversations with him and industry about everything we can do, as soon as possible, to support the sector with its energy costs.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Kate Dearden)

Kate Dearden acknowledged the importance of the hospitality sector, especially pubs, to local economies. She mentioned support through a £1.5 million hospitality support scheme and Pub is The Hub initiative with £440,000 funding recently announced.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Blair McDougall)

Blair McDougall acknowledged the importance of financial access for ethnic minority businesses, stating that it is a key part of the small business strategy. He also mentioned billions more investment in the British Business Bank.

Answer from Peter Kyle

Peter Kyle criticized the Conservatives for not acting during their 14-year tenure. He highlighted his own announcements of £230 million in deregulation per year, suggesting that the Conservatives should provide better questions.

Answer from Chris McDonald

Chris McDonald thanked Perran Moon for his advocacy. He stated that the UK has significant lithium deposits and is eager to exploit these resources, ensuring all options are considered.

Answer from Blair McDougall

Blair McDougall acknowledged the importance of cyber-security and stated that the government is communicating with small businesses to ensure they up their security measures. He also offered to meet the hon. Gentleman on this issue.

Answer from Peter Kyle

Peter Kyle noted that Sonia Kumar is asking important questions related to economic reform. He highlighted reforms from the Mansion House and the role of pensions in unlocking capital into the economy.

Answer from Chris McDonald

Chris McDonald stated that he is familiar with Power Roll, having met their CEO. He mentioned meeting potential investors and offered to discuss further after questions.

Answer from Chris McDonald

Chris McDonald highlighted the government’s ambition for building with more UK-made bricks, fewer imports, and increased productivity of brick kilns. He noted that getting energy prices down is key.