Oral Answers to Questions

Owen Thompson Excerpts

Tuesday 21st January 2020 Commons Chamber

[Andrea Leadsom]

My hon. Friend is well aware of the Government’s ambitions to have a giga factory in the UK. It is vital for the success of our economy that we are able to find these new areas of technological growth that can support the uptake of ultra-low and zero-emission vehicles.

[Owen Thompson (Midlothian) (SNP)]

2. What support she is providing to businesses in Scotland to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.

[Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP)]

6. What support she is providing to businesses in Scotland to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.

[The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Andrea Leadsom)]

The Scottish Government received almost £100 million to help to prepare for Brexit in the run-up to 31 October last year. I am delighted that we now have a good deal with the European Union, so we will be leaving the EU at the end of January, but the implementation period will mean that nothing changes for businesses until the end of 2020. We are working hard on our future trading relationship with our EU friends and neighbours.

[Owen Thompson]

With the final destination of Brexit still vague, it is a disgrace that the UK Government are still failing to give businesses the information they need to navigate Brexit, with firms needing more than the Chancellor telling them simply to “adjust”. Will the Secretary of State finally accept the policy of the Scottish National party and the Institute of Directors of providing a £750 million one-stop shop for UK firms?

[Andrea Leadsom]

I am not surprised to hear that the hon. Gentleman is still determined to resist Brexit, but he will appreciate that this Government are getting on with it and ensuring that there is a great deal for businesses. On his point about Scottish businesses’ preparedness, my Department’s business readiness fund enabled various trade bodies, including the Scottish Chamber of Commerce and the Scottish fishing trade bodies, to receive hundreds of thousands in taxpayers’ money precisely to enable businesses to be Brexit-ready.