Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if the Government will provide incentives to (a) businesses and (b) the automotive industry to locate manufacturing facilities in the Easington constituency.

Government support for small and medium sized enterprises, including suppliers to Nissan, is provided through a range of measures and funding competitions which make the UK one of the best locations to locate and grow an automotive business. This includes the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative, with projects running through to 2019, and the £1bn Advanced Propulsion Centre, which promotes collaborative R&D between suppliers and vehicle makers to develop products to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.

Furthermore, and as part of a programme of long term investment in the North East, the North East LEP Growth Deal, announced on 23 January 2017, was awarded £49.7m. Through the North East LEP Growth Deal we are supporting jobs growth and economic development with £379.6m of Local Growth Fund. This includes £42m of funding for the international Advanced Manufacturing Park, which will provide a world class environment for high tech advanced industries and advanced manufacturing businesses, including the automotive sector. Since its launch in 2016, the North East Growth Hub has engaged with over 7300 businesses, delivered 117 intensive assists and helped 728 individuals to start a business.