Productivity

(asked on 16th May 2018) - View Source

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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of worker productivity in the UK; and what plans, if any, they have to increase productivity.


Answered by
Lord Henley Portrait
Lord Henley
This question was answered on 29th May 2018

According to the latest ONS estimates UK output per worker was 1.2% higher in 2018Q1 than it was a decade earlier. The UK has significant economic strengths on which we can build, but we need to do more to increase our productivity and to make the most of our untapped potential right across the country. The government’s Industrial Strategy sets out a long-term plan to boost the productivity and earning power of people throughout the UK.

My rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer recently launched a public call for evidence to support our Business Productivity Review, which will explore what actions could be most effective in improving firm level productivity. The review will look at the impact of management quality on productivity, and how we can most effectively spread best practice across the country to help boost earnings power.

Our Grand Challenges look to put the UK at the forefront of the industries of the future, directing the focus of the government and engaging the private sector to ensure we take advantage of major global trends, which will improve people’s lives and the country’s productivity.

As announced at Autumn Budget 2017 we are investing £300m in the development of ultra-low emission vehicles, are supporting driverless cars and AI, and have provided a further £2.3bn in R&D through extending the National Productivity Investment Fund.

Through Sector Deals, Government will work with entire sectors to support them to grow and become more productive. We have already announced deals with sectors such as Automotive, AI and Life Sciences with more deals under negotiation.

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