Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ministers were answering
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Covid-19: Support for Business
(Penrith and The Border) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support businesses during
the covid-19 outbreak. [905049]
(Milton Keynes North) (Con)
What support his Department is providing to businesses to help
them recover from the covid-19 outbreak. [905053]
(Warrington South) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support businesses during
the covid-19 outbreak. [905072]
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ()
Since the start of the covid-19 outbreak, the Government have
provided £160 billion of support through a range of schemes to
protect jobs and help businesses keep going. We have also
provided support to businesses through measures in the Corporate
Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 and the Business and Planning
Bill. Working with business and trade unions, my Department has
published detailed guidance to help businesses reopen safely.
Dr Hudson [V]
The Government’s support for people and businesses during the
covid crisis has been fantastic and has helped countless
constituents in Penrith and The Border and across the UK.
Unfortunately, many have still not been able to access support,
such as the newly self-employed, limited company directors,
freelancers, new starters and those who fall on the wrong side of
the eligibility criteria. Will my right hon. Friend work with the
Treasury to see whether those hard-working people can be helped
with some emergency financial support?
My hon. Friend will know that we have supported over 9 million
jobs through the job retention scheme, 2.7 million people have
benefited from the self-employment support scheme and around
870,000 small businesses have benefited from grants. The
Chancellor set out his plan for jobs a few days ago. The key now
is to get the economy up and running, so that businesses can
trade.
That is absolutely right, but it is not just about bouncing back;
it is also about levelling up. Will the Secretary of State join
my hon. Friend the Universities Minister in giving his backing in
the spending review to the shovel-ready MK:U—a much needed
technical university in Milton Keynes which will deliver
cutting-edge science, technology and engineering jobs and skills
for local employers?
As my hon. Friend would expect, the MK:U proposal will be judged
objectively on its merits. More generally, I can confirm that the
Government recognise the significant potential of the
Oxford-Cambridge arc and the important role of Milton Keynes in
achieving that potential.
Airline pilots working for easyJet took an unprecedented decision
on Friday to declare no confidence in their senior management. I
have heard from many constituents who work at the airline in
Liverpool and Manchester who are worried about the company’s
approach of “fire and rehire on different terms”. Does my right
hon. Friend agree that safety in the airline industry must always
be paramount and that negotiations about future job losses should
be respectful and in good faith?
My hon. Friend highlights an important point. Throughout the
covid-19 period, the Government have provided unprecedented
support for employment and worked in close partnership with the
business community. I understand that it continues to be a
difficult time for many businesses, but as he highlights, in that
spirit of partnership, we expect all employers to treat their
employees fairly and follow the rules.
(Doncaster North) (Lab)
I want to return the Secretary of State to the question asked by
the hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Dr Hudson) about the
many businesses that are part of the 3 million ExcludedUK group.
They include over 2 million people who are essentially
self-employed but have been disqualified from help under the
self-employment scheme for various—often arbitrary—reasons. In
many cases, this is not simply rough justice but deep unfairness.
Many of these individuals are not high earners. Will the
Secretary of State give an indication that he recognises that
this is an injustice, and can he tell us how he plans to address
it?
The right hon. Gentleman will also acknowledge that the
Government have provided unprecedented support to businesses
across the whole economy. As I said, the key right now is to
support businesses to open, to get the economy up and running.
That is the best way that we can support businesses across the
United Kingdom.
This issue of 3 million people being excluded is not going away.
Let me ask him about the winding down of the furlough scheme.
Yesterday, Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, said that a
furlough extension was vital to prevent a “jobs bloodbath” in
aerospace and automotive. We see the looming threat too in
sectors that have not yet reopened, such as events and
exhibitions, and those operating well below capacity, such as
hospitality. Yet from next week, the Government are insisting
that every single employer, whatever their industry, will have to
start contributing to the furlough. Does the Secretary of State
not recognise that this decision to phase out the furlough,
irrespective of circumstances, risks handing a P45 to hundreds of
thousands of workers?
The furlough scheme will have been up and running for a full
eight months, providing a huge amount of support for more than 9
million jobs. It is becoming more flexible and allowing people to
return to work part time. The right hon. Gentleman will know that
the Chancellor has also set out the job retention bonus which, if
it is taken up by all employers, will represent a £9 billion
boost for the economy. I say to him again that the key is to get
the economy up and running and to get businesses trading.
(Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP)
As we have heard, many businesses, sole traders, freelancers and
others have been left without support throughout this health
emergency. They are on their knees and they are still getting no
support. How can they rebuild their trade when the Secretary of
State’s Government will not help them? If his Government will not
help them, why have they refused to allow simple adjustments to
Scotland’s borrowing rules so that the Scottish Government can
step in?
The hon. Gentleman talks about support in Scotland; like many
colleagues in the House, I believe in the Union, and we must work
together to support workers across the United Kingdom. More than
730,000 jobs have been protected in Scotland through the furlough
scheme. The hon. Gentleman will know that, as a result of the
additional moneys that the Chancellor announced at the summer
statement, the total additional Barnett funding to Scotland since
March is £4.6 billion.
Oh how the broad shoulders of the Union slump when asked a
difficult question. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has exposed
how the promised £800 million of consequentials for Scotland from
the Chancellor’s job package is in fact only £21 million. Will
the Secretary of State now do the right thing by Scotland’s
businesses and urge the Chancellor to replace the missing £779
million—or has he also bought into the Prime Minister’s stated
view that a pound spent in Croydon is of more value than a pound
spent in Scotland?
The hon. Gentleman talks about supporting businesses in Scotland;
perhaps he will come forward and give his support to the UK
internal market White Paper that we have published.
Horizon Post Office Scheme
(Jarrow) (Lab)
What steps he is taking to support sub-postmasters affected by
the Horizon post office scandal. [905050]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
The independent review of Horizon will provide a public summary
of the failings that occurred at Post Office Ltd, which I hope
will give postmasters the answers that they have been seeking all
these years. It will also ensure that lessons are learned for the
future.
Last month, the Government announced an independent review of the
Post Office’s Horizon IT system scandal that led to hundreds of
postmasters being fired, many going bankrupt and others even
being imprisoned. The Post Office Horizon scandal will go down as
one of the biggest civil injustices ever. To restore public
confidence and bring justice to the many lives ruined, it is
vital that each individual case is assessed and that rightful
compensation is paid to all those affected. A judge-led public
inquiry is the only answer; will the Minister commit to that now?
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her question and her continued
highlighting of the sub-postmasters’ situation. I hope to
announce the chair of the review very soon so that we can start
on it at pace in September.
(Newcastle
upon Tyne Central) (Lab)
The Post Office Horizon scandal is one of the biggest
miscarriages of justice of our times: 20 years of reputations
ruined, families torn apart and lives lost. Sub-postmasters were
betrayed by a Post Office that so persecuted them that what
compensation they have won has largely gone on legal fees, and
they have now turned to the parliamentary ombudsman to
investigate the full costs of a Government that failed
“to undertake its statutory duty of oversight”.
As we break for our summer holidays, will the Minister finally do
the right thing and commit to a full, judge-led inquiry that will
get to the bottom of the wrongs suffered and deliver both justice
and compensation?
The chairman or woman of the review will be announced in due
course so that we can start the review of this injustice in
September at pace. It is important that we speak to the Post
Office, the Government, the sub-postmasters and other people,
including at Fujitsu, to get to the bottom of this matter so that
we can learn the lessons and move forward for the sub-postmasters
of the future.
Aerospace Sector
(Belfast East) (DUP)
What support he plans to provide to the aerospace sector.
[905052]
(Wolverhampton North East) (Con)
What support his Department is providing to the aerospace sector
during the covid-19 outbreak. [905058]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
This is the last Department for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy questions before recess and I want to place on record my
thanks to you, Mr Speaker, and your staff for the incredible way
that they have managed proceedings in the House.
It is Farnborough week and the Government are providing the
aerospace industry and its aviation customers with more than £8.5
billion of support, including through UK Export Finance, the
covid corporate financing facility, research grants and the job
retention scheme. We are discussing further help with the sector.
May I start by thanking the Minister for his personal engagement
given some of the difficulties that we have had with the
aerospace sector in Northern Ireland, and particularly with
Bombardier in my constituency? Given that it is Farnborough Week,
let me say that I read with interest the Minister’s comments
yesterday on FlightGlobal in the question and answer session, and
one of the missing components is the retention of key skills
within this high-end engineering sector. Does the Minister accept
that, without a clear, bespoke solution to support and sustain
jobs beyond the cliff edge of October with the job retention
scheme, the aerospace industry is facing a clear and present
danger?
I am grateful to the hon. Member for his question and for his
comments about our engagement with the sector. We are supporting
the aviation and aerospace sector with £8.5 billion and rising.
If he looks at support from other countries, which we do, he will
see that we will also consider further support as we progress, as
the Chancellor has said, through the recovery.
Wolverhampton North East is home to aerospace companies that have
seen an unprecedented and sudden collapse of demand. Collins
Aerospace is now sadly considering mass redundancies. What
further support can the Government offer to limit job losses in
Wolverhampton?
We work with the whole aerospace industry. I am the co-chair of
the Aerospace Growth Partnership. As well as access to the
furlough scheme and the corporate finance scheme, the Secretary
of State announced yesterday £400 million in further funding for
research and development support for the sector to get to that
Jet Zero flight. The Future Flight Challenge is already investing
£300 million. We continue to work with the sector to make sure
that those skill sets, that ecosystem that has been so brilliant
at delivering an incredible industry in the UK, are maintained
for the next three to five years, which is the timeline by which
the sector looks to recover.
Mr Speaker
I thank the Minister, on behalf of my office, for his kind words.
(Manchester Central) (Lab/Co-op) [V]
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for facilitating these virtual questions
for the past few weeks, and long may they continue.
Although yesterday’s announcement was welcome, the Minister and I
both know that nearly all the projects have been a long time in
coming—from well before the current coronavirus crisis—so, in
that sense, the funds announced yesterday were already priced in
by the sector. In order to protect the aerospace jobs of today,
as others have asked, which are highly skilled and in areas of
the country that can ill afford to lose them, we really do need
further urgent action today. Will the Minister say more than he
has so far, which has been warm words but not much real action,
to reassure those working in aerospace that their jobs will be
protected in the coming months and years?
I take issue with “warm words and no action” as £8.5 billion has
been put to work to protect jobs and to protect the sector. It is
great to see that, this week, Airbus has shown confidence in the
UK with confirmation that the wings for its latest aircraft, the
A321XLR, will be built in the UK at Broughton. That demonstrates
our engagement not just with Airbus, but with Bombardier and with
other major players in the market and, of course, the supply
chain as well. We continue to put the support in place and to
look at further support as we progress through the economic
recovery.
Social Distancing: Beauty Sector
(Hornsey and
Wood Green) (Lab)
What support his Department is providing to (a) the beauty sector
and (b) other sectors that remain fully or partially locked down
as a result of social distancing measures. [905054]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
Further to the Prime Minister’s announcement on 17 July, I am
delighted that all close contact services will be able to resume
from 1 August. We have taken a phased, cautious approach to
reopening our economy, guided by the scientific and medical
advice.
The close contact sector of the theatre is the one that I want to
ask about, Minister. What action can the Government take to
support local theatres such as Jacksons Lane, Upstairs at the
Gatehouse and the Park Theatre? My constituents work in those
theatres and, sadly, redundancy notices are going out. What can
be done to save these jobs and protect another highly skilled
sector?
I totally understand, as Minister for London, that many theatres
in the middle of London also require that support, but for
provincial theatres around the country, we really do need to make
sure that we can attract audiences back. That is why we are
looking forward to working with theatre groups to have pilots for
events so that when they are able to open, people can come safely
and enjoy the performances that they have to offer.
Covid-19: Retail and Hospitality Sectors
(Stourbridge) (Con)
What support his Department is providing to the retail and
hospitality sectors as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
[905055]
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ()
Through the Business and Planning Bill, we are simplifying
reliefs and the costs to cafés, pubs and restaurants of obtaining
a licence to allow for outdoor dining. The Chancellor has also
announced a six-month temporary VAT rate reduction from 20% to 5%
for the hospitality, accommodation and attraction sectors. Both
these measures should help to provide a welcome boost for
business.
My constituency is known for its culinary delights such as the
fantastic Butterfingers Deli, and Balti Bazaar in Lye, not
forgetting its equally fantastic independent local pubs. Does my
right hon. Friend agree that it is crucial that we encourage
customers to get back to our pubs and restaurants to support our
local economies and get our economic engines firing again?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We need to get out there
supporting our pubs and restaurants. The Eat Out to Help Out
scheme operating during August is another great incentive to
support participating restaurants, cafés, pubs and other food
establishments. Al fresco dining midweek in balmy August weather
should be a must for all of us.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Select Committee, .
(Bristol North West) (Lab)
Hospitality workers who, in normal times, rely on tips as a
significant part of their income have been especially hit, not
just because their workplaces have been shut but because furlough
payments have not recognised tip-based income. The Government
have committed to bringing forward legislation to ensure that
hospitality staff can keep their tips; indeed, it was a
Conservative party manifesto commitment. When will that
legislation be brought to the House?
The Chairman of the Select Committee raises a very important
point. As he knows, we have had to bring forward a number of
emergency Bills. However, I recognise the point he is making, and
we will look to see the earliest point at which we might be able
to bring that forward.
Covid-19: Green Economic Recovery
(Gedling) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to ensure a (a) green and (b)
resilient economic recovery from the covid-19 outbreak. [905056]
(Lewisham East) (Lab)
What plans he has to promote a green economic recovery after the
covid-19 outbreak. [905066]
(York Central) (Lab/Co-op)
What plans he has to promote a green recovery from the covid-19
outbreak. [905067]
(Gower) (Lab)
What plans he has to promote a green recovery from the covid-19
outbreak. [905075]
The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth ()
The Prime Minister has made clear our intention to build back
greener. We are taking action to deliver on that commitment,
including through a commitment of over £3 billion to reduce
emissions from our buildings across the UK, £800 million to
promote carbon capture from power stations and industry, and a
further £100 million being invested in R&D in direct air
capture technologies.
I am delighted that the Chancellor focused on creating green jobs
in his summer economic update. Does my right hon. Friend agree
that launching a multi-billion pound drive to improve the energy
efficiency of homes will not only be good for creating jobs and
driving us towards our net zero target but will save people money
on their energy bills?
My hon. Friend is exactly right. Our £3 billion investment in
energy efficiency could support up to 140,000 green jobs. The £2
billion green homes grant will upgrade over 600,000 homes, saving
households up to £600 a year on their energy bills.
[V]
I agree that it is great to have jobs created. Insulating homes
creates jobs across all regions of the UK, yet right now it is
having the opposite effect. Labour has been contacted by
insulation businesses who are experiencing cancelled work as
clients now want to wait until September, when green homes grant
money is available. Will the Minister fix this problem, and fix
it now, by stating that jobs done in July and August can claim
green homes grant funding in September?
The hon. Lady asks a very pertinent question. The Chancellor set
out a £3 billion programme, and of course it will take time
before that money is fully deployed. As well as the green homes
upgrade, we have committed £320 million to the heat networks
investment project, which is very relevant to the kind of work
that she has described.
[V]
With the Government having committed to invest in the bioscience
sector in York, making it the heart of the green new deal, they
are now trying to make that conditional on a local government
reorganisation that is not only deeply unpopular but is also,
frankly, unworkable. In the light of comments that York’s economy
will be the second-worst hit in the country, with unemployment
rising to as high as 28%, will the Minister instead now bring
forward that investment, to prevent mass unemployment in my city,
to prevent unnecessary economic pain and to kick-start investment
in green-collar jobs?
As the hon. Lady knows, we are absolutely committed to creating
green-collar jobs. Today, we have 460,000 of those jobs across
the UK; by 2030, we have stated our commitment to have 2 million
such jobs. No one can deny our commitment to creating green jobs.
I would further add that we are also committed to making the UK a
science superpower, and we will make innovation central to our
green recovery. That is absolutely front and centre of what the
Government are trying to do.
Commenting on his own report back in 2017, said,
“the evidence is clear that tidal lagoons can play a cost
effective role in the UK’s energy mix”.
This Government still have not managed to back the oven-ready
pathfinder tidal energy project in Swansea bay. When will they
recognise the opportunities, the new green jobs and the inward
investment support that tidal power can bring to Swansea, Wales
and the rest of the UK?
We are absolutely committed, as the hon. Lady knows, to tidal
power and all forms of marine power. There was a specific issue
with the Swansea bay tidal lagoon project, which was that it was
felt not to be economical. That was a specific, project-based,
single incidence where we did not feel that it was value for
taxpayers’ money.
(Southampton, Test) (Lab)
All we have right now, as far as energy efficiency for homes is
concerned, is an announcement of a one-year scheme to provide
vouchers for energy efficiency improvements in mostly lower
priority properties, with no detail yet as to how that will work.
The Minister simply did not answer the question from my hon.
Friend the Member for Lewisham East () about businesses in the field who are telling us that
jobs are being lost now, because people are cancelling work in
anticipation of those details, if and when they come out.
What we need for green recovery is a long-term programme that
develops jobs and skills and really contributes towards low
carbon energy efficiency improvements across all homes in England
and Wales. When does the Minister intend to provide details of
how the short-term plan will work and what is he doing to
establish a proper long-term home energy efficiency programme on
the back of that plan?
Obviously, the hon. Gentleman and I will have slightly different
views of what the Government are doing. I was surprised to hear
him dismiss the £3 billion commitment. I remind him that green
homes grants will deliver improvements to more than 650,000
homes, supporting 140,000 jobs in 2020-21. These are significant
strides and a huge amount of money has been committed to that
programme.
Covid-19: Indoor Air Quality
(Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op)
What steps he has taken to ensure that the indoor air quality of
offices, shops, restaurants and bars is adequate to help prevent
the spread of covid-19 among workers and customers. [905057]
The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth ()
The Government have provided clear advice on ventilation in our
safer workplaces guide. We are led by the science in that work
and, as the scientific and medical advice changes, the guidance
will be updated to reflect that.
[V]
The Minister should know that the science now shows that indoor
air pollution dramatically increases coronavirus infection and
death rates, and that masks inhibit the transmission of the
virus. Will he today press to follow France’s lead to make
compulsory mask-wearing the law in all indoor environments
accessible by the public, and include indoor air pollution in the
terms of the Environment Bill in September, in order to save
lives and protect our NHS?
As I said in my earlier answer, we are guided all the time by
science and evidence and, as the science and evidence changes, we
will calibrate our policy responses to that effect.
Home Working
(Lichfield) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to encourage home working;
and if he will make a statement. [905059]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
Around 90% of employees already have a statutory right to request
homeworking as well as other forms of flexible working. We are
now encouraging employers and employees to discuss how work can
be done safely at home or in a covid-secure workplace.
Well, a recent survey has shown that two thirds of people would
prefer to work from home either full time or part time, rather
than work all the time at the places they worked from pre-covid.
With this change in attitudes, which means we will end up with
less pollution and probably a better standard of living, what can
the Government do, and what can she do, to encourage this type of
working for those who want it?
Mr Speaker
When he said “she”, I am sure he meant the Minister.
I am sure that my hon. Friend did not. We are aware of the wider
benefits of flexible working. Nearly half of employees have
worked from home during covid-19. Most employees already have the
right to request flexible working, which employers can reject
only for really sound business reasons. In our manifesto, we
committed to take it further, and we will be looking at it in the
light of covid.
Support for Businesses: Scotland
(Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)
What recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer on increasing support for businesses in Scotland.
[905060]
(Ayr, Carrick
and Cumnock) (SNP)
What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer
on increasing support for businesses in Scotland. [905070]
(Aberdeen South) (SNP)
What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer
on increasing support for businesses in Scotland. [905073]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
The Secretary of State and I hold regular discussions with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer on the issue of business support,
including on the schemes available to support Scottish businesses
affected by the covid-19 pandemic.
We are still waiting on the promised aviation sectoral support.
Indeed, far from support, in my Adjournment debate the Minister
essentially said that workers should be grateful that Rolls-Royce
offered voluntary redundancy. Moreover, the Government have not
acted to stop companies such as Menzies Aviation and Centrica
following the deplorable fire-and-rehire tactics employed by
British Airways, which are now being enforced. Will he tell the
House whether he thinks it fair that an employer can force an
employer on to reduced terms and conditions or face redundancy?
Why is that illegal in so many European countries?
We are in constant conversation with Rolls-Royce and other
employers, quite rightly. The sector will be impacted for between
three and five years. It is right that companies should be able
to right-size their businesses and, as the Secretary of State
referred to, have a constructive dialogue with their employees
about how they arrive at that right size. The Government’s
position is to support the industry with more than £8.5 billion
of support through the covid pandemic.
Businesses in Scotland have thrived under devolution with the
support of the Scottish Government, who are better able to
provide tailored policies specifically for Scotland. An
independent economics research organisation based at the
University of Warwick published figures just yesterday that show
that Brexit had already cost Scotland an estimated £736 a head
last year alone. With uncertainty over future funding streams
such as the so-called prosperity fund, which we were promised
details of two years ago, how does he think that the greatest
threat to devolution in its history—the current power-grab by
Westminster—presents continued membership of the United Kingdom
for business and the people of Scotland as a good option?
I have weekly calls with my counterparts in the devolved
Administrations, including the Minister for economy and fair work
in Scotland. The most successful market is the UK internal
market—that is without doubt. That is what the Scottish
Government should support. It is a shame that my officials,
working with officials from Northern Ireland and, of course,
Wales, can move forward, yet the Scottish Government chose to
withdraw their officials back in March. I urge my colleague from
the SNP to ask the Scottish Government to reintroduce those
officials to the system. We would thrive as a United Kingdom.
To protect and rebuild the local economy of Aberdeen and the
north-east of Scotland, we need huge investment from the UK
Government in the hydrogen economy, carbon capture and
underground storage, and an energy transition zone all through an
oil and gas sector deal. Will the Minister confirm that his
Government intend to sign off an oil and gas sector deal this
calendar year—yes or no?
It is a manifesto commitment of this Government to deliver an oil
and gas sector deal, and we are working with the sector. My
brilliant colleague, the Minister with responsibility for energy,
has been engaging constantly with the sector to ensure it can
take the opportunities that are before it in offshore wind
generation and all sorts of other areas. Of course, hydrogen will
be incredibly important to the energy White Paper, which we will
publish in the autumn, as the Secretary of State set out.
Research and Development
(Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)
What steps he is taking to increase the level of investment in
research and development throughout the UK. [905061]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
The Government are committed to making the UK a world-leading
science superpower, and are increasing Government spending on
R&D to £22 billion by 2024-25. We have announced seven
successful projects from all four nations of the UK, which will
receive £400 million of funding through our strength in places
fund. Our ambitious R&D roadmap commits us to publishing a
place strategy in the autumn that goes even further.
Mr Sheerman [V]
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for all the work you have done to keep
people like me engaged in the parliamentary process.
The Minister has a business background, so does she not realise
that if she could persuade the Chancellor of the Exchequer to
follow Mrs Thatcher’s example and introduce a windfall profit tax
on people who have made a lot of money—the gambling industry and
companies such as Amazon—that could be ploughed into research and
development? Universities will go through a tough time in the
coming months and years, so let us put real resources into
research and development as never before.
I add my thanks to your team, Mr Speaker.
The hon. Gentleman will be aware that we have a taskforce that
has been looking into how to support universities. It has enabled
us to set up a stability fund, which will enable R&D to
continue in our institutions. In addition, in the roadmap, which
contains the place strategy, we are talking about lots of
levelling up. We are making sure we have the opportunity to take
this forward and become the science superpower that we all want
to be.
Covid-19: Events Sector
(Hammersmith) (Lab)
What steps he is taking to help the events sector recover from
the covid-19 pandemic. [905062]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
As the Prime Minister announced last week, from 1 October the
Government intend to allow audiences to return to stadiums around
the country. Conferences and other business events can also
recommence in a covid-19 secure way, subject to the outcome of
pilots.
The Government are really missing the point on this. The thing
about events, meetings, conferences, exhibitions and wedding
receptions is that they are organised and regulated, and yet they
are more constrained at the moment than pubs and restaurants.
Rather than talk about pilots and permitted venues that are not
defined in the guidance, will the Government look at a faster and
fuller opening of the sector before October?
We took evidence from a number of areas, including the wedding
industry, and we have the “Safer Events: A Framework for Action”
White Paper. All those people will feed into that discussion.
Weddings are essentially parties, and we need to ensure that they
can be regulated in a covid-19-secure way. I will meet the
wedding industry associations again tomorrow to continue
discussions in this area.
Research and Development
(Cambridge) (Lab)
What steps he is taking to secure the future of UK research and
development. [905063]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
The Government are now implementing their ambitious R&D
roadmap, published earlier this month, reaffirming
our commitment to increasing public R&D spending to £22
billion by 2024-25 and ensuring the UK is the best place for
scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs to live and work.
I appreciate the recent announcements, but can the Minister
reassure us that all universities will be able to access those
loans, with freedom to invest in line with local priorities? Will
she take a look at the proposals from the new Whittle laboratory
in Cambridge, which needs to match the already secure £23.5
million in private sector funding to develop the first long-haul
zero-carbon passenger aircraft?
I give my assurance that one of the things we are addressing in
the roadmap is ensuring that we become a science superpower.
Within that, we are levelling up across the whole of the country.
I am committed to making the workplace diverse and ensuring that
we have a culture that embraces that throughout the whole of
country. We will ensure that UK scientists are appreciated and
rewarded.
Employment Levels
(Bethnal Green
and Bow) (Lab)
What assessment he has made of the effect of winding down the
coronavirus job retention scheme on employment levels. [905064]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
The Government have provided unprecedented support to businesses
and individuals. We are doubling the number of jobcentre work
coaches, spending £32 million to recruit National Careers Service
careers advisers and creating hundreds of thousands of new
subsidised jobs for young people throughout the UK.
I thank the Minister for her answer, but my question is about the
job retention scheme and employment levels. Given that some
employers will be paid to retain workers who are never going to
be made redundant, some of the job retention bonus scheme will be
a dead loss. Would it not be a more effective use of public money
to use some of these funds to continue to pay the wages of
workers hardest hit and to provide some support to some of the 3
million households that have been excluded throughout this crisis
from any help from this Government?
We are giving a whole range of support to everybody, as the hon.
Member will know, through a lot of schemes. In fact, 9.4 million
jobs have been supported through the coronavirus job retention
scheme. As the scheme winds down, we will be making it more
flexible so that people can return to work part time. We are also
offering £1,000 to employers for each furloughed employee who is
kept on until the end of January 2021.
Life Sciences and Vaccines
(Barrow and
Furness) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support (a) vaccine
manufacturing and (b) UK life sciences. [905065]
(Cheadle) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support (a) vaccine
manufacturing and (b) UK life sciences. [905071]
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ()
The Government are investing £93 million to set up the UK’s first
dedicated Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre in
Harwell. We are also investing £38 million in a rapid deployment
facility, which will allow vaccine manufacturing at scale to
commence from later this year.
The Government have stated that they are interested in creating a
sovereign manufacturing capability in the north. An opportunity
exists in Ulverston in my constituency to build a bioscience
cluster, with deep collaboration with local universities. Using
this site for therapeutic vaccine manufacturing would enable
partnership with GlaxoSmithKline, which is already based in
Furness, and it would preserve and create local jobs and skills,
and be a great result for the north and the UK as a whole. Would
my right hon. Friend meet the key partners to this project to see
whether we might be able to take it forward?
I want to confirm that the Government of course continue to
consider the options to ensure that we have sufficient vaccine
manufacturing capacity in the UK. I will ask the vaccine
taskforce to follow up on that issue with my hon. Friend.
For many of my constituents who work in Greater Manchester life
sciences and in the Cheshire life sciences corridor, the
Government’s drive to increase research and development into
vaccines is really important. Recognising the importance of this
to our local economy, what are the Government doing to increase
and develop the strengths of life sciences in the Greater
Manchester area?
I can confirm to my hon. Friend that, of course, the Government
strongly support the growth of the life sciences sector in the
north-west, which employs about 26,000 people. We have made a
significant strategic investment in the Medicines Discovery
Catapult at Alderley Edge to boost R&D.
Covid-19: Support for Business
(Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con)
What support his Department is providing to businesses to help
them operate in a covid-secure way. [905068]
(West
Worcestershire) (Con)
What steps he is taking to help all businesses reopen in a
covid-secure way. [905069]
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ()
In consultation with businesses, business representative groups,
trade unions, Public Health England and the Health and Safety
Executive, my Department has published comprehensive workplace
guidance to ensure businesses can operate in a covid-secure
manner, keeping both their workers and customers as safe as
possible.
[V]
I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply, and welcome the work
that he and his Department are doing to help businesses during
this challenging time. However, what support is being given to
the self-employed across the country?
As my right hon. Friend will know, 2.7 million self-employed
people have accessed over £7.8 billion of grants from
self-employed income support scheme. The scheme has been
extended, and individuals will be able to claim a second and
final grant when the scheme reopens for applications on 17
August.
I thank the Secretary of State for finding a way to reopen the
beauty sector, which employs so many women across the country.
When I paid a visit to the Malvern Spa to celebrate its reopening
last weekend, I was told that it has capacity now for only 15 spa
days, rather than 40, because of the square footage rules that
his Department has set out. Will he look urgently at reviewing
those, because it is a very spacious premises?
I thank my hon. Friend for her acknowledgement of the work we
have been doing. The key has been to open businesses safely and
securely in a cautious and phased manner, and we will continue to
do that.
Topical Questions
(Warley)
(Lab)
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
[905115]
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ()
The coronavirus vaccine taskforce set up in my Department under
the excellent leadership of its chair, Kate Bingham, has been
making good progress. The Government have supported the vaccines
being developed at Oxford University and Imperial College and
have now secured access to three different vaccine classes, as
well as a treatment containing covid-19 neutralising antibodies.
We are also investing, as I said earlier, in vaccine
manufacturing capacity in the UK, and the taskforce is doing all
it can to ensure that the United Kingdom gets access to a safe
and effective vaccine as soon as possible.
Well, that is a very welcome announcement, but I draw the
Secretary of State’s attention to the tsunami of job losses now
facing us. What industry needs right now is orders to get the
lines running. That is not just for the big companies, but the
whole supply chain. Does he accept the role of Government, not
just as regulator and funder, but also as customer? Too often,
the public sector, the civil service, local government and the
police, fire and ambulance have, frankly, let British industry
and British workers down, claiming they are bound by so-called EU
rules. Now we are coming out of the EU, will he get going, shake
up the civil service, put British industry first, get the orders
out there and get the production lines moving?
I do not think there is much more to say. The right hon.
Gentleman has made a powerful point.
(Sedgefield) (Con)
I have received a letter from James Ritchie, the chief executive
of Tekmar, based in my Newton Aycliffe industrial estate. He is
also the chairman of Energi Coast, the UK’s leading energy
cluster, whose members employ more than 3,000 people. He believes
that the offshore wind hub would be perfectly placed in Teesside.
The region includes a number of left-behind communities, in vital
need of levelling up in jobs. That opportunity would support them
and benefit my Sedgefield constituency. Can the Secretary of
State assure me of his vital support in helping me and the Tees
Valley Mayor to bring the hub to Teesside and honour our pledge to
the blue wall voters? [905116]
The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth ()
I am delighted to assure my hon. Friend that the Government are,
as he knows, determined to ensure the rapid expansion of the
offshore wind manufacturing supply chain. We have committed to 40
GW of offshore wind by 2030, and I fully agree with him that the
north-east region is critical to that development. I know the
project to which he is referring, and officials and myself are
looking closely at its viability.
(Middlesbrough) (Lab)
The non-payment of the national minimum wage in Leicester garment
factories was shocking, but unfortunately unsurprising.
Exploitation in the garment industry has been extensively
reported for years, including in a 2019 Environmental Audit
Committee report. The cases we know about are likely to be the
tip of the iceberg. Given that these abusive working practices
are not only criminal, but a threat to public health, will the
Secretary of State tell the House what steps he has taken to
escalate enforcement in light of the covid-19 pandemic?
The hon. Gentleman raises an incredibly important point, and I
think we have all been appalled by what we have read and heard.
He will know that the National Crime Agency is leading
investigations right now into the current set of allegations. He
will also know that a pilot operation was run in autumn 2018,
bringing together a whole range of agencies. In the past 18
months, there have been more than 200 investigations. I confirm
to him that the enforcement of the minimum wage is something that
HMRC investigates, and in 2019-20 it has issued across the
country 1,000 penalty notices.
(Bolton
West) (Con)
I thank my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for
championing the life sciences sector and my hon. Friend the
Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth for championing
the cause of universities and researchers, but we also have a
superb charitable medical research sector in the United Kingdom.
With the loss of funding due to covid-19, will my right Friend
commit to working with the medical research charities to ensure
that they can continue to work on creating the next generation of
medical treatments for patients? [905119]
As my hon. Friend will know, in June 2020 we announced a support
package to enable universities to continue their vital research.
Universities will be required to use some of that funding for
research normally funded by medical research charities. We are
continuing to look at this situation and we hope to engage
closely with charities to develop an even more robust package.
(East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) (SNP)
[V]
My constituents are particularly concerned about Marks and
Spencer’s announcement that it will indefinitely close its East
Kilbride store due to covid-19, undermining our town centre. Will
the Secretary of State support a “fit to trade” licensing scheme
proposed by the all-party parliamentary group for textiles and
fashion—which I chair—alongside the British Retail Consortium,
which will not only offer protection for garment workers across
the UK, but provide an incentive for retailers to invest in UK
manufacturing, creating thousands of skilled jobs and aiding the
economic recovery plan? [905117]
The hon. Lady raises an interesting point, and I or one of my
fellow Ministers would be happy to meet her to discuss it
further.
(Chesham and Amersham) (Con) [V]
Air pollution has a direct impact on children’s health. My
13-year-old constituent is perhaps the first person to measure air pollution at
ground level, by collaborating with his labrador dog Baggy, who
has been wearing a pollution monitor on his collar. His father
Matt owns an alternative energy company, Bio Global Industries,
in my constituency, and supported him. The data showed that air
pollution is two-thirds higher, closer to the ground. Will the
Secretary of State join me in commending Tom and Baggy for that
really enterprising research, and look at recommending to
manufacturers a greater emphasis on producing higher buggies,
strollers and pushchairs, which will keep young children further
away from the concentrated air pollution that he found closer to
the ground? [905121]
I am delighted to join my right hon. Friend the Secretary of
State in commending and Baggy for their pioneering work. She knows that
tackling carbon emissions and improving air quality go hand in
hand. We are taking action to address both, particularly with the
300,000 ultra low emission vehicles registered in the UK, and we
are also providing new funding for vehicle charging
infrastructure.
(Rhondda) (Lab)
Further to the question by the hon. Member for Bolton West
(), may I
push the Government on clinical trials and medical research?
Medical research has saved hundreds of thousands of lives in this
country in recent years. I have known people this year who
started on a clinical trial that was their only hope of life. It
was suspended because of coronavirus and now they have died. We
need to make sure that the money is getting into the medical
research charities. Last week, Cancer Research UK said that it
would lose 500 members of staff and cut its research to £150
million. We need the Government to act fast to get these clinical
trials up and going again—and the medical research, too. [905122]
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to highlight this issue
and I share a lot of his concerns, but it is wrong to suggest
that we are not doing anything. From autumn this year, we are
providing a package of low-interest loans with long payback
periods, supplemented by a small element of grant, to cover up to
80% of the universities’ income losses from international
students. The money that is being pumped into our further
education deals precisely with the point that he raised, and we
are continuing to do that.
(New Forest West) (Con)
Because the exhibitions industry generates so much additional
economic activity we should reopen it fully immediately,
shouldn’t we? [905128]
My right hon. Friend raises an important point. Of course we
recognise the valiant contribution that the sector makes to the
UK economy. We are working closely with the sector to pilot the
reopening of conference centres, with a view to full socially
distanced reopening from 1 October, subject of course to
continuing to make progress.
(Newport East) (Lab)
Constituents are still reporting a catalogue of problems with
bounce-back loans, including long waits to be approved and being
turned down for business bank accounts because of credit ratings.
When will Ministers get to grips with that, to ensure that all
eligible businesses apply and receive the loans quickly? [905127]
Bounce-back loans have been a big success; more than 1 million
have been approved for businesses. If the hon. Lady has specific
issues that she wishes to raise about businesses in her
constituency, she should write to me.
(Blackpool South) (Con)
The economic impact of covid-19 is likely to be particularly
acute in coastal resorts such as Blackpool, which are heavily
reliant on seasonal tourism. What steps is my right hon. Friend
taking to diversify the local economy in such resorts and to
support businesses to create well-paid, skilled jobs in emerging
industries in these areas? [905130]
I thank my hon. Friend for that question, because it goes to the
heart of what we are doing as a Government. We already have more
than 460,000 UK jobs in low-carbon businesses and their supply
chains. Those are green-collar jobs and our research and
development is totally committed to expanding those
opportunities, whereby we want to reach 2 million green jobs by
2030. It is my conviction that coastal communities such as the
one he represents will fully benefit and be in a place where they
can reap the rewards of our investment in the green economy.
(City of
Chester) (Lab)
Money for the aerospace technology industry is welcome, but it is
money for a future that may not exist if we do not save the
aerospace industry today. Will the Secretary of State and his
Ministers agree to sit down with industry leaders, trade unions
and hon. Members in this House to form a recovery plan and a
sector deal specifically for the aerospace sector, which of
course generates five jobs for every job in the sector itself?
[905133]
The hon. Gentleman is right to highlight the key importance of
the aviation sector, and the Government are supporting aerospace
and its aviation customers with more than £8.5 billion, as part
of our measures to support the overall economy. I understand that
Airbus has drawn down £500 million on the corporate finance
facility, and of course the Secretary of State and the
ministerial team are happy to engage with him and his
constituents on this important matter.
(North Devon) (Con)
I know that my right hon. Friend does not underestimate how
difficult this year has been for hospitality businesses in North
Devon. I warmly welcome the action the Government have taken to
get people safely back into our pubs, restaurants and cafés. Will
he join me in visiting The Bell Inn, in Chittlehampton, to look
at the fantastic hard work that has been done there to ensure
that all the appropriate measures are in place to reopen?
[905135]
I already have one week of holiday plans and not in her
constituency, sadly, but we all need to get out there to visit
pubs and restaurants and cafés, which are the heart of our
communities. From what I have seen, they are very much adhering
to the covid-secure guidance, and that is how we will all enjoy
summer safely.
Mr Speaker
Well, if you would add the Speaker, he’ll come along.
(Ogmore)
(Lab)
Last year, it was announced that the Ford engine plant was to be
closed in September of this year. Ineos was brought in, with both
UK Government and Welsh Government funding, but it has now
suspended its development at the plant. BA has announced
potential job losses at three sites across south Wales, and GE
has put staff under a statutory notice period at its plant in
Nantgarw. What support is the Secretary of State going to start
putting into the south Wales economy so that we can save, protect
and create new highly-skilled and well-paid jobs? [905146]
As the hon. Gentleman will know, we have been supporting the
economy across the United Kingdom, to the tune of £160 billion of
additional funding announced by the Chancellor. If the hon.
Gentleman would like to engage with my ministerial team on
particular issues, I would be very happy about that.
(Bracknell) (Con)
Nothing is more important right now than protecting public health
and supporting our recovery. Does the Minister agree that his UK
Internal Market White Paper last week will ensure that all four
nations in our Union can overcome covid-19 together? [905147]
Like my hon. Friend, I am a firm believer in the Union—in one
United Kingdom. The proposals we set out in the UK Internal
Market White Paper are all about supporting jobs, protecting
businesses and livelihoods, and encouraging investment across the
whole UK. I hope that all colleagues across the House will write
in support of that as part of the consultation.
