Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Greg Clark and Marie Rimmer

Tuesday 12th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Ms Marie Rimmer (St Helens South and Whiston) (Lab)]

15. What progress he has made on developing (a) sector deals and (b) local industrial strategies as part of the industrial strategy.

[The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Greg Clark)]

Our modern industrial strategy will boost productivity and earning power across the UK. We have announced four sector deals in areas including life sciences, the creative industries, the automotive sector and artificial intelligence. More will come in the weeks ahead. I am encouraged by the work of the mayoral combined authorities and local enterprise partnerships in developing local industrial strategies.

[Ms Rimmer]

I and my Front Bench colleagues have been informed that dozens of sectors have put forward proposals for a sector deal, including the steel industry, but have had little or no engagement from the Government. Will the Secretary of State confirm how many proposals for sector deals he has received and to how many he has formally responded?

[Greg Clark]

I am delighted to report that we have had a huge interest from sectors right across the country, including the steel sector. The Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, my hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Richard Harrington) and I have had substantial discussions with the steel industry and we look forward to developing that deal in the weeks and months ahead.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Greg Clark and Marie Rimmer

Tuesday 12th September 2017 Commons Chamber

[Greg Clark]

Talking of groundhog day, the hon. Lady talks complete nonsense. The industrial strategy challenge fund and the industrial strategy Green Paper have been widely welcomed in all parts of the country. After our exchanges, I will send the hon. Lady the support it has had from the north-east of England, of which she should be aware. This is something that has long been called for. I have listed the sectors that will benefit. As we are talking about manufacturing, in terms of her reflections on the state of confidence in the economy, the hon. Lady should know that the EEF last week reported record orders, record export orders, record employment and record investment intention. She should welcome that.

[Ms Marie Rimmer (St Helens South and Whiston) (Lab)]

12. To ask the Secretary of State what steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises.