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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 07 Mar 2022
Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill

"The point made earlier by my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) was that so much of this Bill has been so slow in being forthcoming. There were huge delays in publishing the Russia report. Does the hon. Gentleman share my concerns that, given the report’s findings of …..."
Cat Smith - View Speech

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Written Question
Innovation and Research: Reviews
Thursday 28th October 2021

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the forthcoming independent review of the landscape of UK research organisations referenced in the UK Innovation Strategy will consider the proportion of institutions’ work that includes the use of advanced cultures of human cells and tissues, artificial intelligence and organ-on-a-chip technology and other new approach methodologies (NAMs).

Answered by George Freeman

As announced in the Innovation Strategy, Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Paul Nurse is leading an independent Review of the Research, Development, and Innovation Organisational Landscape. The Review will draw on the UK’s strengths and experiences and international best practice to enhance the UK research, development, and innovation (RDI) landscape for the future.

The Review focuses on those organisations performing research activity and whether the current institutional mix is calibrated to deliver the highest quality research. It will support the UK RDI landscape to remain world-class and competitive in an increasingly globalised and contested environment.

The Terms of Reference for the Review were published on 1 October 2021. A final report is expected to be published in Spring 2022.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 25 May 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

" What steps he is taking to support high street businesses. ..."
Cat Smith - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 25 May 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

"High street businesses on Lord Street in Fleetwood tell me that one of their biggest concerns is empty shop units that have fallen into disrepair. They are dangerous for people who are out shopping and make the high street very unattractive. What support can the Government give councils such as …..."
Cat Smith - View Speech

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Written Question
Tourist Attractions: Government Assistance
Thursday 23rd July 2020

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what level of support Windermere Lake Cruises has received through business support schemes as a result of the covid-19 outbreak to date.

Answered by Paul Scully

The Government has introduced an unprecedented package of support for businesses, including loan schemes, grant funding and wage packages. Businesses from most sectors are able to access this support, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for the schemes for which they are applying.

We do not hold information on the support accessed by individual businesses such as Windermere Lake Cruises.


Written Question
Inland Waterways: Government Assistance
Thursday 23rd July 2020

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding from the public purse has been disbursed to each region through (a) the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, (b) loans, (c) cash grants and (d) tax relief to the inland waterways sector to help tackle the economic effect of the covid-19 outbreak on businesses in that sector.

Answered by Paul Scully

The Government has introduced an unprecedented package of support for businesses, including loan schemes, grant funding and wage packages. Businesses from most sectors, are able to access this support, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for the schemes for which they are applying.

We do not hold information that would allow us to identify the support accessed by individual businesses or individual sectors such as inland waterways across the package of Government support.


Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 28 Jan 2020
UKAEA Public Service Pension Scheme

"I beg to move,

That this House has considered the UKAEA Public Service Pension Scheme survivor’s pension.

It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mr Gray, for this short but important debate. I requested the debate to highlight the inconsistent and discriminatory application of rules across public …..."

Cat Smith - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 17 Jun 2019
Recall of Tumble Dryers

"With an estimated 700 affected appliances per constituency, it is not surprising that I have been contacted by a number of constituents affected, including Linda Thomas, who was advised to contact Peterborough trading standards, it being the trading standards body responsible for this Whirlpool issue. She tells me that she …..."
Cat Smith - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 12 Jun 2019
Net Zero Emissions Target

"My Lancashire constituents want to step up and play their role in meeting the climate emergency, including by choosing greener transport options. Will the Secretary of State look into opening disused rail lines, such as the one into Fleetwood, as part of the strategy? Does he recognise that fracking locks …..."
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Written Question
Industry: Morecambe Bay
Friday 12th January 2018

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if the Government will recognise the partnership formed by local authorities in Lancaster, the South Lakes and Barrow in Furness to allow that partnership to develop its own local industrial strategy for the area served by the Morecambe Bay Economic Initiative.

Answered by Andrew Griffiths

We will work in partnership with places to develop Local Industrial Strategies, which will be developed locally and agreed with government. We will agree the first Local Industrial Strategies by March 2019.

As we set out in the Industrial Strategy White Paper, Local Industrial Strategies will establish new ways of working between national and local leaders in both the public and private sectors. I have been encouraged by the enthusiasm local areas have shown for Local Industrial Strategies. Places in England with a Mayoral Combined Authority will have a single strategy led by the mayor and supported by Local Enterprise Partnerships. For parts of the country without a mayor, the development of the strategy will be led by the Local Enterprise Partnership.