Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the UK’s ability to launch a network of satellites equivalent to the EU’s Galileo satellite navigation system; what estimate his Department has made of the annual running costs of such a network; in which territories the UK would place the required ground stations; and in which area of the country launches of satellites would take place.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
My rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister confirmed on 2 May that the Government is developing options for a British Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that will provide civilian and encrypted signals, and be compatible with the US GPS system. The Government has been clear there is a mutual benefit to the UK remaining involved in the EU Galileo programme and we are working hard to deliver this. However, without the assurance that UK industry can collaborate on an equal basis and without continued access to the necessary security-related information, the UK could be obliged to end its participation in the project.
Initial assessments confirm that the UK space sector has the technical capability to design, build and deliver a domestic satellite navigation system as a result of its extensive experience in delivering the Galileo programme. The options for such a system, including its objectives in terms of services and capabilities and associated costs, are now being studied further in the work led by the UK Space Agency. The options for the location of the necessary ground infrastructure, including the suitability of the UK’s Overseas Territories, and the options for the launch of the satellites are also being considered as part of the work that is now under way.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to ask the Secretary of State what steps he is taking to improve productivity as part of the Industrial Strategy
Answered by Greg Clark
Our Industrial Strategy’s aim is to boost earning power and productivity across the country. We will build on the UK’s world class expertise in industries such as the automotive sector in the North East, underpinned by Nissan in Sunderland, one of Europe’s most productive plants.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what response the Government plans to make to the request by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders of 20 June 2017 for an interim agreement for the UK to remain in the customs union as long as necessary to agree a comprehensive trade deal with the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department works closely with the UK automotive industry including through the Automotive Council which is attended by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. We have frequent conversations about the challenges that leaving the EU poses and the opportunities available to different sectors as well as the government’s position as set out in the EU Exit White Paper. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said we will continue to work closely with business to ensure we reflect the key concerns and deliver the best deal for Britain.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the implications are for his Department's policies of data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders on 20 June 2017 on investment in the automotive sector during the first half of 2017.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department works closely with the UK automotive industry, including through the Automotive Council, to understand the issues and opportunities the sector faces. The Government will continue its longstanding programme of support for the sector’s competitiveness. The UK has been very successful in attracting inward investment from automotive companies. Companies such as Nissan and Toyota have continued to re-invest, thanks to our highly-skilled workforce, strong partnership between government and industry, and long-term investment in new technology and innovation.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 25 October 2016 to Question HL2367, on motor vehicles, if it remains his Department's policy to support all UK-based or manufacturers and ensure that their ability to export is not adversely affected when the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Claire Perry
Yes, BEIS officials are working closely with the UK automotive industry to understand the impacts and opportunities of leaving the EU. The Government will continue its longstanding programme of support for the competitiveness of the UK automotive industry, including pursuing a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the EU that provides the greatest possible tariff free and frictionless trade in goods and services.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to support the British automotive industry after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department works closely with the UK automotive industry to understand the impacts and opportunities of leaving the EU. The Government will continue its longstanding programme of support for the sector’s competitiveness. We are determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive and advanced manufacturing. This includes seeking a tariff and barrier-free comprehensive free trade deal in goods and services with the EU for a new, mutually beneficial customs agreement that allows cross-border trade to be as frictionless as possible
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to encourage investment in the automotive industry.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department works closely with the UK automotive industry, including through the Automotive Council, to understand the issues and opportunities the sector faces. The Government will continue its longstanding programme of support for the sector’s competitiveness. The UK has been very successful in attracting inward investment from automotive companies. Companies such as Nissan and Toyota have continued to re-invest, thanks to our highly-skilled workforce, strong partnership between government and industry, and long-term investment in new technology and innovation.
We are determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive and advanced manufacturing. This includes seeking a tariff and barrier-free comprehensive free trade deal in goods and services with the EU for a new, mutually beneficial customs agreement that allows cross-border trade to be as frictionless as possible.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what contingency plans the Government has in place to offset the decline in investment in the automotive sector since 2015.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department works closely with the UK automotive industry, including through the Automotive Council, to understand the issues and opportunities the sector faces. The Government will continue its longstanding programme of support for the sector’s competitiveness. The UK has been very successful in attracting inward investment from automotive companies. Companies such as Nissan and Toyota have continued to re-invest, thanks to our highly-skilled workforce, strong partnership between government and industry, and long-term investment in new technology and innovation.
We are determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive and advanced manufacturing. This includes seeking a tariff and barrier-free comprehensive free trade deal in goods and services with the EU for a new, mutually beneficial customs agreement that allows cross-border trade to be as frictionless as possible.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to Nissan's announcement of 27 October 2016 on the production of the next Qashqai and X-Trail models in the UK, what support and assurances the Government has offered to that company.
Answered by Nick Hurd
I refer the hon Member to the statement made by my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State to the House on this matter on 31 October 2016, Official Report col 679-80.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 17 October 2016 to Question LH2367, what steps his Department is taking to ensure small and medium-sized enterprises involved in the supply chain for the production of Nissan vehicles in the North East automotive sector remain competitive.
Answered by Nick Hurd
Work by the Automotive Council has identified £6bn per annum additional opportunities for UK suppliers, where they can compete successfully to win this business. The Government is working closely with the Automotive Council and the wider sector to help secure this.
Government support for small and medium sized enterprises, including suppliers to Nissan, is provided through the range of measures and competitive funding competitions. This includes the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative, with projects running through to 2019, and the Advanced Propulsion Centre, which promotes collaborative R&D between suppliers and vehicle makers to develop products to improve vehicle efficiency and reduce emissions.
As part of a wider programme of long term investment in the North East, the Sunderland and South Tyneside City Deal includes a £5million government investment in a new Advanced Manufacturing Park, which will support the local automotive supply chain.
Further support is provided by the North East Automotive Alliance, which runs a supplier competitiveness programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund.