Oral Answers to Questions

Jason McCartney Excerpts

Tuesday 15th September 2015 Commons Chamber

[Joseph Johnson]

British universities and British science punch well above their weight around the world, and they secured 16% of the last batch of grant money from the European Union. That is because we have a competitive, world-class research base, and we are the Government who are supporting it and providing a stable climate for business and universities to invest in research and science. The Labour party would jeopardise that with its new economic policies, which would destabilise our business climate.

[Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)]

13. What recent support he has provided to small businesses in West Yorkshire.

[The Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise (Anna Soubry)]

A total of 892 StartUp Loans have been issued to entrepreneurs across West Yorkshire, amounting to nearly £5 million, and 890 West Yorkshire businesses have secured guarantees under the enterprise finance guarantee scheme, amounting to £87 million. Through the growth deal funding in 2015-16, we have supported the establishment of a growth hub in the Leeds city region, which helps businesses across West Yorkshire to gain access to joined-up, expert advice, grants and loans.

[Jason McCartney]

I welcome that positive news. As the Minister knows, one of the big challenges for my local businesses, which are expanding at a fantastic rate, is finding new premises. There are many derelict mill sites, but they need a big capital injection to prepare them for the expanding businesses. Will the Minister continue to consider investing through the regional growth fund and the business growth deal to support those wonderful businesses, creating jobs and apprenticeships?

[Anna Soubry]

Of course we will continue to consider investing, but during this period we are looking at our future plans for public spending, and it is all part of that.