Oral Answers to Questions

Liz Twist Excerpts

Wednesday 14th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Kenneth Stevenson (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab)]

3. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support economic growth in Scotland.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett) (Lab)]

6. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support economic growth in Scotland.

[Mike Reader (Northampton South) (Lab)]

9. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support economic growth in Scotland.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Alexander]

Of course, North Lanarkshire has been at the heart of Scottish manufacturing for many decades. Since 2019, it has actually grown faster than the national average in Scotland, due to its highly skilled workforce and ambitious local development plans. I am delighted that large US companies such as CoreWeave have recognised that potential, with CoreWeave having invested £1.5 billion in North Lanarkshire’s growing AI infrastructure. I can assure my hon. Friend that North Lanarkshire has a strong advocate and supporter in the UK Government—we are determined to fulfil that potential.

[Liz Twist]

Buses are hugely important to our communities and our transport network, so it is vital that Falkirk-based Alexander Dennis Ltd and its supply chain, including Dellner Glass in Consett in my constituency, are supported. It has taken the SNP First Minister over a year to recognise that. Can the Secretary of State set out how he is working with other Departments to ensure that jobs and the company not only survive, but thrive?

[Mr Alexander]

Of course, I warmly welcome the decision to keep Alexander Dennis’s Falkirk and Larbert sites operational. That will be a huge relief to the talented workforce, not just in those parts of Scotland, but at Dellner Glass and other parts of the supply chain. I recently met the president and managing director of Alexander Dennis, Paul Davies, to discuss its strategic plans and the growth of UK bus manufacturing, and I am also supporting the positive progress made by the Department for Transport’s UK bus manufacturing panel—the first of its kind—which brings industry leaders such as Alexander Dennis together with metro mayors to support manufacturing, boost regional economies and create jobs.