Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Pawsey and Nadhim Zahawi

Tuesday 22nd October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)]

14. What support her Department is providing for the development of electric vehicle technology.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Nadhim Zahawi)]

We have just announced up to £l billion of new funding to advance the next generation of cutting-edge automotive technologies. I am sure the House would want to know how that funding is being used. Part of it is being used by the supply chain for large-scale production of electric vehicles so that we scale up the production in the UK, and of course part of it will be used for vehicle research and development.

[Mark Pawsey]

I do not know whether you have had the opportunity to make a journey in one of the new electric London taxis, Mr Speaker, which are manufactured in my Rugby constituency by the London Electric Vehicle Company and which often provide people with their first experience of an electric vehicle. The company has just recorded its best ever sales month, with 352 taxis sold, and the fleet is improving the carbon footprint in our cities by preventing 6,800 tonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere. What further can we do to improve the switch to electric?

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I am very pleased to hear that the London Electric Vehicle Company had record sales in September. I spoke to the CEO recently and was very impressed with their capability. I understand their sales have grown month on month since April. They have capacity to produce 20,000 vehicles a year and his message to this House when I spoke to him was, “Let’s get Brexit done.”

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Pawsey and Nadhim Zahawi

Monday 17th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)]

18. Brooke School in Rugby caters for children with autism, physical disabilities, medical needs and learning difficulties, and it has recently opened a shop in Rugby town centre where pupils learn to produce products from recycled materials and sell them to the public. Does the Minister agree that that is an excellent opportunity to learn workplace skills? Will he join me in commending the inspirational head teacher, Chris Pollitt, for this initiative?

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I commend the school for taking the initiative to provide its pupils with the opportunity to learn skills for the workplace in a safe environment. I hope that Mr Pollitt will share that excellent practice with other educational professionals and explore the possibility of running supported internships as well.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Pawsey and Nadhim Zahawi

Monday 12th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)]

Was the Minister as concerned as I was when Warwickshire County Council recently brought forward a strategy document stating that dyslexia would not constitute a special educational need? Is he as pleased as I am that that document has now been withdrawn?

[Nadhim Zahawi]

Yes, I am.