Amanda Martin
Main Page: Amanda Martin (Labour - Portsmouth North)Department Debates - View all Amanda Martin's debates with the HM Treasury
(1 day, 22 hours ago)
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Lucy Rigby
We are looking at that issue via the child trust fund taskforce. I am more than happy to communicate further with the hon. Member on it.
Amanda Martin (Portsmouth North) (Lab)
The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Dan Tomlinson)
Our 10-year advanced manufacturing sector plan backs jobs, investment and growth, and we have committed up to £4.3 billion to the advanced manufacturing sector to 2030.
Amanda Martin
Although Portsmouth is on the south coast, its legacy of deindustrialisation and privatisation brings us challenges familiar to many cities and towns across the north. Reindustrialisation must be national and not confined to the north.
The loss of shipbuilding under the Tories devastated Pompey, but we are resilient and proud, and—despite huge losses—have retained a world-class defence cluster in advanced manufacturing and hugely skilled jobs in companies such as Accuracy International, Harwin, Griffon Marine and Airbus. To enable real reindustrialisation across the whole country, will the Minister commit to a national reindustrialisation strategy that protects advanced manufacturing, backs innovation and drives growth?
Dan Tomlinson
My hon. Friend is right to raise the importance of reindustrialisation. Too many places were harmed by the deindustrialisation that accelerated in the 1980s. The need for more good jobs in more parts of England matters in the south, as well as in the north; it matters in our towns, as well as in our urban centres; and, of course, it matters in Portsmouth too. My hon. Friend is a strong advocate for her community, and I look forward to working with her to build on Portsmouth’s proud industrial and maritime strengths.