Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Industrial Strategy

Thursday 21 May 2026 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government carefully selected sectors with the greatest growth potential for the economy when establishing the industrial strategy.
  • The UK aims to be Europe's first market for digital driving services through initiatives supporting the automotive industry.
  • Chlorine production is vital to the UK economy, and the Government is taking action through the industrial strategy to support energy-intensive industries.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Economy Business & Trade
Context

Food manufacturing is a key sector in Orkney and Shetland, but it was excluded from the Government's industrial strategy. This has led to concerns about rising input costs and lack of assistance for food manufacturers.

Question

The largest sector of the manufacturing base is food manufacturing, but it was deliberately left out of the industrial strategy. With the benefit of hindsight, do the Government think that it was possibly a mistake to exclude food manufacturing from the industrial strategy?

Answer from Chris McDonald

At the time that the industrial strategy was established, the Government carefully selected those sectors that had the greatest growth potential for the economy. However, they were also clear that other important sectors, like food manufacturing, are still crucial. The Government is aware of issues around food prices.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Whether excluding food manufacturing from the industrial strategy was a mistake

How: Under Review

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Q2 Sarah Coombes Lab West Bromwich
Business & Trade
Context

The automotive manufacturing sector is a key part of the west midlands economy and has traditionally been a leader globally. There are concerns about the future direction and protection of this industry.

Question

The future of the car industry is in electric and automated vehicles, and the west midlands and the UK have always been leaders in car manufacturing across the world. Can the Minister say more about what we are doing to protect the industry and ensure that its future lies in the UK?

Answer from Chris McDonald

Automotive manufacturing is a key part of our advanced manufacturing sector, supported by initiatives such as signing a memorandum of understanding with Wayve. The UK aims to be Europe's first market for digital driving services.

Answered
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Q3 Sarah Pochin Reform Runcorn and Helsby
Energy Business & Trade
Context

The MP noted that Vynova, one of the last remaining chlorine production sites in her constituency, faces uncertain future due to high energy costs. She highlighted the strategic importance of having domestic chlorine production.

Question

In my constituency, I have one of the last remaining chlorine production sites, Vynova. On a recent visit, I was told that its future is uncertain because of production costs—it is a highly energy-intensive industry. Does the Minister agree that it is strategically critical that the UK has its own chlorine production, and will he meet me to discuss the future of the site?

Answer from Chris McDonald

I commend the hon. Lady for championing the chemicals sector in the House. I am extremely concerned about the sector, including chlorine, because it is vital to the UK economy, as she says. This Government are taking action through our industrial strategy to focus on heavy industry and energy-intensive industries. I might have an opportunity to speak with her later today, if that would be of interest.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Meeting request

How: Under Review, Government Action Through Industrial Strategy

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Q4 Gareth Davies Con Grantham and Bourne
Business & Trade

Question

The Government’s industrial strategy rightly states that improving skills in the construction sector is essential to keeping our country building. In fact, on page 44, there is a commitment to invest<br/>“£625 million to train…60,000 more skilled workers”.<br/>It has been one year since publication, so how many more skilled workers have entered the construction workforce as a result of that commitment?

Answer from Chris McDonald

The hon. Gentleman is right to point out the importance of construction skills. In fact, on a recent visit to a construction skills academy in east London, I had the opportunity to do a bit of tiling myself—that has come in quite handy at home, actually—and to talk to some of the young people, who realise that they are developing skills for life. The Government are incredibly committed to that. The hon. Gentleman may have missed it, but he will be pleased to know that the Government have announced five new technical excellence colleges to help young people to get those skills for life in the construction sector.[Official Report, 1 June 2026; Vol. 786, c. 12WC.] (Correction)

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Q5 Gareth Davies Con Grantham and Bourne

Question

I am grateful for the update on the Minister’s tiling skills, but I did not hear a number showing how he is making progress on the £625 million commitment. Perhaps he can write to me on how they are making progress. One of the existing schemes that supports training is the Construction Industry Training Board, but many industry leaders believe that it is no longer working or delivering. Construction firms are facing significant bills as a direct result of the levy, all while the CITB is reducing training provision. What is the Minister’s view of the CITB, and has he engaged with the construction industry to discuss it?

Answer from Chris McDonald

Yes, indeed. I engage with the construction industry extremely regularly as the co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council, and skills, along with health and safety, are absolutely at the top of our agenda. The views of the construction industry on the Construction Industry Training Board are discussed there and decided there by the industry.

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Q6 Sarah Olney Lib Dem Richmond Park
Business & Trade

Question

The Government announced their intention in the industrial strategy to use their procurement power to shape markets for innovation in the longer term. Tech start-ups in my constituency complain that the process of getting Government contracts is slow, risk-averse and structurally biased in its financial viability tests and paperwork requirements towards incumbents and US suppliers. As one of them put it to me, no one gets sacked for buying IBM. That surely prevents the Government from achieving their goal of greater innovation. What conversations is the Minister having with his Cabinet Office counterparts to ensure that our ambitious home-grown small and medium-sized enterprises are not being squeezed out of the competition for public contracts that could provide these firms with valuable growth opportunities and the innovation that our economy and public services so badly need?

Answer from Chris McDonald

The hon. Member raises an extremely important point: Government procurement can, of course, be an important lever for growing our economy. Whereas previous Governments used the fig leaf of being in the EU as an excuse to buy things from overseas simply because they were a penny cheaper, this Government are committed to ensuring that as much as possible of UK taxpayers’ money is spent in the UK.<br/>The hon. Member asks what discussions I am having with Cabinet Office colleagues. I am having discussions with colleagues in the Cabinet Office, the Home Department, the Ministry of Defence and across Government, because there is a commitment among Ministers to ensure that Government procurement is targeted at British companies. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made a strong commitment to reduce regulation and bureaucracy, so we can ensure that these contracts are awarded more efficiently and more easily to small businesses in the UK.

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