The Prime Minister opened by updating Cabinet on his visit last
week to see Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO, and the
dinner he attended with the European Council, where he called for
a new UK-EU defence and security partnership. He also updated on
his visit with the Energy Secretary announcing plans to make it
easier to build nuclear reactors, supporting our mission to drive
growth and deliver energy security.
The Leaders of the Commons and Lords updated on business in the
House with twenty-six Bills currently before Parliament. They
updated on progress last week on the Fraud & Error Bill,
Second Reading of the Borders Bill last night and Report stage of
the Great British Energy Bill in the Lords today.
The Environment Secretary then updated on plans for developing a
Land Use Framework which balances the protection of food security
and restoration of nature as we deliver 1.5 million homes over
this parliament, New Towns and the vital wider infrastructure
needed to fuel growth.
Finally, Cabinet discussed ongoing work on the Industrial
Strategy following the publication of the Green Paper in November
and ahead of the final publication in the spring alongside the
Spending Review. The Chancellor said the Industrial Strategy was
a key part of the growth mission and would have a focus on place
to ensure we are driving higher living standards across the
country. She added that the Government would need to use all its
levers to support the key sectors including skills policy,
planning reform, housebuilding, transport infrastructure and
regulation, and that today's announcement to enable businesses to
hire up to 10,000 more apprentices per year was a key part of
that.
The Business Secretary said the Industrial Strategy would be a
10-year plan to deliver a pro-business environment that drives
investment in the UK, working with businesses to address the key
barriers facing the sectors that would drive future growth and
higher living standards.
The Work and Pensions Secretary said the Industrial Strategy
would be supported by the government's Get Britain Working Plan
to get people the support they need to get into good jobs,
relieving pressure on the welfare bill, and reduce businesses'
reliance on immigration.
