Contributions
400 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized Enterprises: Interest RatesWe work closely with the British Business Bank to support SMEs through targeted market interventions. That includes improving the terms on offer to SME borrowers through the…13 Sept 2023HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized Enterprises: Interest RatesThe noble Lord makes a very good point. Those are some of the largest international companies in the world, and I am sure that they will provide the Prime Minister with some…13 Sept 2023HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized Enterprises: Interest RatesMy Lords, it is an extremely good point. If one goes back to before the financial crisis in 2008, when the big five really dominated, there has been nothing short of a revolution…13 Sept 2023HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized Enterprises: Interest RatesI was not aware that there was this trouble in the hovercraft industry. My guess is that it is something to do with the balance sheet, but I will certainly write to him and we…13 Sept 2023HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized Enterprises: Interest RatesI am not aware that we have made any specific proposal with NatWest but, through the British Business Bank, with a base rate of 5.25%, SMEs can borrow at 6%. They will find it…13 Sept 2023HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized Enterprises: Interest RatesThe noble Baroness makes a very good point. CDFIs have been extremely successful and, if one looks at the plethora of lending opportunities right now, it continues to broaden…13 Sept 2023HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized Enterprises: Interest RatesThe interest rate is a Bank of England matter. The reason why it has gone up, as we all know, is to battle inflation, which is incredibly important. Having said that, in business,…13 Sept 2023HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized Enterprises: Interest RatesI thank my noble friend for his question. The Government want the UK to be the best place to start and grow a business and to support new entrepreneurs, regardless of their…13 Sept 2023HANSARDDigital Economy AgreementsThe noble Lord makes a very good point: anything that improves the speed of these free trade agreements can only be for the benefit of the country. The ones we are looking at at…24 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Economy AgreementsMy Lords, I shall certainly do all that I can. I believe that in the agreement we reached with Singapore, which was fundamental in the success that we have just achieved at CPTPP,…24 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Economy AgreementsNo, my Lords, I am not sure that they are in conflict. Technological advances in free trade agreements will ensure that this country, among others, will be able to trade freely…24 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Economy AgreementsMy Lords, under the UK’s G7 presidency we brokered the G7’s digital trade principles. Further digital agreements sit at the heart of our agreements with Japan, Australia, New…24 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Economy AgreementsMy Lords, I absolutely understand the point and I am assured that the security of data is second to none throughout these free trade arrangements, but I will be very happy to…24 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Economy AgreementsI entirely agree with my noble friend. Our vision is for the UK to be a global leader in digital trade, with an entire network of international agreements that drive economic…24 Jul 2023HANSARDEmployment Relations (Flexible Working) BillMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Taylor, for bringing the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill through the House. The Government have been pleased to support the…14 Jul 2023HANSARDIndustrial StrategyI entirely agree with my noble friend. I assure him and the whole House that the Department for Business and Trade is specifically making it easier for small and medium-sized…20 Jun 2023HANSARDIndustrial StrategyMy Lords, there is a conference later this year on investment into Northern Ireland, which I am sure will prove a successful enterprise. Investment into Northern Ireland is…20 Jun 2023HANSARDIndustrial StrategyMy Lords, I quite agree with the noble Lord about the success of the announcement from JLR. It is extremely important that we continue to invest in all sorts of technologies and…20 Jun 2023HANSARDRegister of Overseas Entities (Penalties and Northern Ireland Dispositions) Regulations 2023That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 26 April be approved. Considered in Grand Committee on 13 June .20 Jun 2023HANSARDIndustrial StrategyMy Lords, the Atlantic declaration shows how closely we are working with our American colleagues. The value of trade with that nation is well known and there is no question that…20 Jun 2023