House of Commons · Westminster Hall
26 April 2022 · 3 other contributors · 4,696 words
Opened by Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Responding minister: Stuart Andrew
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Daniel Zeichner raised concerns about future of small cities following covid-19 in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Zeichner asks the Government to work with cities like Cambridge to establish a multi-disciplinary test bed framework for implementing experiments and studies across various sectors, including health, education, climate, retail, transport, housing, business models, and office space evolution. He requests proactive selection of projects, data publication, and learning mechanisms.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Daniel Zeichner is concerned about the impact of the pandemic on small cities, particularly Cambridge. He highlights issues such as changing transport patterns, increased use of private vehicles over public transport, and altered demand for office space. He also mentions the importance of maintaining social interactions that foster innovation, such as 'bike-locking moments' in Cambridge.
Andrew Gwynne acknowledges the importance of workers who were essential during the pandemic, such as bus drivers, hospitality staff, and lab technicians. He emphasizes that while there are benefits to remote working for some sectors, others cannot work from home.
Paid tribute to Cambridge Ahead and the excellent report. Highlighted issues such as shortages of wet lab space for life sciences companies and changing high street demands due to online shopping.
Asked if he could speak in the debate, was allowed but limited to two minutes. He highlighted the advantages of small cities like Gloucester, which have a diverse community and strong cultural and economic contributions. He emphasised the city's ambition to become a green energy hub with solar, wind, and hydrogen production, as well as its goals for cyber and nuclear sectors. Richard Graham also called on the Government to support local government structures and funding for cyber security initiatives.
Government Response
Stuart AndrewIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Nokes. I congratulate the hon. Member for Cambridge on securing a debate on an issue that matters deeply to many communities across this country. The future prospects of small cities and our support for them are real and tangible concerns. While acknowledging the impact of the pandemic, the Government has committed billions in covid loans, furlough support, and funds to local authorities. With the virus hopefully in the rear-view mirror, the focus shifts towards addressing pre-existing issues such as job opportunities, good quality jobs, and life prospects diminished by areas being overlooked. The levelling-up White Paper launched in February outlines measures designed to close health, education, and wealth gaps between regions, including investments in education, transport, housing, research and development. A key component is the regeneration of towns through funds like the £3.6 billion Towns Fund and the £2.4 billion Town Deals for 101 towns across England. The Minister emphasises the importance of local decision-making and devolution to ensure maximum potential for local communities, highlighting specific projects in Peterborough, a new university opening later this year, and the upcoming round of the £4.8 billion levelling-up fund encouraging smaller cities to secure investment. The Government's commitment includes regeneration, devolution, and collaboration with local government and institutions to protect people from deadly viruses and deliver on issues that matter.