Economic Growth

Debate between Emma Reynolds and David Mundell

Monday 7th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Emma Reynolds]

The Prime Minister is clear that the hospitality sector is close to his heart. It is one that he worked closely with when he was Mayor of Greater Manchester. Earlier this summer we announced the business rate reductions for pubs, social clubs and live music venues, and we will go further in the Budget.

[David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)]

The Minister will know from her previous ministerial role that the cost of fuel is the single most important business cost for rural businesses. I am not asking her to write the Budget today, but will she convey to the Chancellor the importance of continuing the fuel duty freeze for rural businesses beyond the end of December?

[Emma Reynolds]

As I outlined to the hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton (Sarah Dyke), it is right that we focus on rural communities as well as urban areas and city regions. I will convey that message to the Chancellor, but I will not be writing the Budget right now.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Emma Reynolds and David Mundell

Thursday 9th July 2026 Commons Chamber

[Emma Reynolds]

My hon. Friend is right to say that the Government absolutely recognise the potential of agri-tech as a high-growth sector. That is why it is included in the Government’s industrial strategy. The UK is already a world leader in agri-tech, but we want to ensure that we maintain that leadership. Under this Government, we will continue to bolster our position and boost global exports, as he suggested. We are supporting British agri-tech innovations, such as automated fruit pickers, which are already being used around the world. We should be proud of our strong research base and our culture of farming innovation.

[David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)]

I encourage the Secretary of State to visit the Roslin Institute, just outside Edinburgh. It is most famous, of course, for the cloning of Dolly the sheep, and it is one of the world’s leading agri-tech centres. Although it is in Scotland, it is extremely important that it is regarded as a UK asset, and I hope that she will promote it in that way.

[Emma Reynolds]

I could not agree more with the right hon. Gentleman that the centre is a UK national asset. I or the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth South (Stephen Morgan), would be pleased to visit to learn more about what it is doing.