Contributions
788 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsIt has been a hugely significant six months for the Department for Business and Trade. After our record-breaking international investment summit and our industrial strategy Green…12 Dec 2024HANSARDBusiness ConfidenceIf the hon. Gentleman googles that statistic, he will find that it is not actually true, but I appreciate that it is demanding being in opposition, and that there may not always…12 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI recognise what my hon. Friend is saying in her question, which is that skills will be one of the biggest, if not the biggest issue for businesses going forward. Of course, that…12 Dec 2024HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesI have absolutely no doubt that the Government’s agenda is one for employment, business investment and growth. Some of the things that this country needs the most could only have…12 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Member’s question is perhaps more for the Secretary of State for Transport, but she skilfully put that to me. I assure her that I will work with the Secretary of State…12 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI very much agree and welcome the question from my hon. Friend. I certainly recognise that high streets are going through a transition from being primarily retail centres to now…12 Dec 2024HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesWith respect, I hear a lot of calls from the Conservatives to cut taxes and increase spending, but still no account of how they would do that. I appreciate that sometimes the…12 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI welcome my hon. Friend’s question, and I welcomed the time we spent together at South Crofty tin mine, which was also one of my favourite visits of the year. This is a hugely…12 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsAt least we have some things we can agree on there, which is a nice start to the Christmas period. I agree that the UK has always been and must be a champion of free trade in a…12 Dec 2024HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesI welcome the hon. Member’s question. She is right that some of the issues that most affect businesses in our constituencies often sit in other Departments. The role of my…12 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI recognise the issue and I welcome my hon. Friend’s raising it at the annual dinner of the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It matters to this Government that we make…12 Dec 2024HANSARDBusiness ConfidenceI thank my hon. Friend for raising that important matter. Given the sums of money involved, I can understand why that is a substantial issue for businesses in her constituency. It…12 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI might be biased, but I thought that the international investment summit that we held was the best day of this year. That was not just because of the investment and the real…12 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe have had seven or eight of the same question from the Opposition Benches, and not a single answer to how they would pay for the promises that they make. We are getting on with…12 Dec 2024HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesI very much welcome my hon. Friend’s question. My area on the eastern side of Greater Manchester has, like hers, a huge history of co-operatives and mutuals. The diversity in…12 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am afraid that the shadow Secretary of State’s analysis is too simplistic. The US is a major trade partner and always will be, but he will know that so is the European Union and…12 Dec 2024HANSARDBusiness ConfidenceWell, what can I say? Was it the Conservative party that increased corporation tax from 19% to 25% in one Budget, and that crashed business investment and confidence because of…12 Dec 2024HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesI am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend for his question. I certainly join him in congratulating those local businesses on their work and, indeed, all Members of Parliament on…12 Dec 2024HANSARDBusiness Growth ServiceSmall businesses are the beating heart of our high streets and our communities and are essential to our economic success. There are 5.5 million small businesses in the UK—99.8% of…09 Dec 2024HANSARDStellantis LutonI very much believe that industrial strategy is essential to the future of the United Kingdom. I hoped that this would be supported on a cross-party basis, and I see no reason why…27 Nov 2024