Extracts from Commons
debate on The Government’s Productivity Plan
(Derby North)
(Con):...In my constituency alone we have a high density
of original equipment manufacturers—such as Toyota, Rolls-Royce and
Bombardier—and a well-established supply chain that serves them
all. It is essential that we have the training and skills that
match local employers’ needs, which is something the productivity
plan looks to address.
(Pendle) (Con):
Today I met Katie Goodwill, who won the gold medal in computer
numerical control turning at the 2016 WorldSkills show in
November, and Ryan Worthington, another award winner; both work
for Rolls-Royce in Barnoldswick in my constituency. Does my hon.
Friend agree that apprenticeships play a vital part in developing
the skills we need to improve productivity, and join me in
congratulating Katie and Ryan on their success?
: Of course I do,
and I congratulate them both on their great success. I was about
to mention the apprenticeship levy, which is essential because it
encourages large businesses to invest in their workforce and in
the future, and will ensure that the UK has the skilled workforce
it needs in the years to come.
During my time as an MP, I have regularly heard that more needs
to be done to tailor skills to play to local strengths and boost
productivity. Brilliant work is being done in Derby to try to
tackle that problem. For example, in response to the needs of
businesses such as Rolls-Royce and Bombardier, the university in
the city recently opened a new science, technology, engineering
and maths building. Apprenticeship providers such as 3aaa are
building initiatives to link employers, schools and
apprenticeship providers to tailor skills. A great example is the
recently opened construction academy in Derby North, which looks
to encourage and train young people in the much-needed skill of
bricklaying. More needs to be done to support such hard work, and
giving the required resources to the productivity plan will do
just that. Initiatives such as those I have mentioned can make a
real difference locally, and will not only set the foundations
for growth but keep the east midlands and the UK on the map as a
place where a technically skilled workforce is in place to meet
demand...
(Cannock Chase)
(Con):...What was really worrying to me, as a
Staffordshire MP, was the position of the west midlands. We are
the worst-performing English region. The question I have been
asking myself is, why are the west midlands performing so poorly
relative to other regions? More specifically, what do we need to
do to address that? My hon. Friends the Members for Derby North
and for Warwick and Leamington talked about some of the excellent
manufacturing businesses we have in the west midlands. We have
Jaguar Land Rover, JCB, Toyota and Rolls-Royce to
name just a few. Is the issue the make-up of our businesses, or
is it, as my hon. Friend the Member for Halesowen and Rowley
Regis (James Morris) mentioned, transport? The M6 is not a
million miles from my constituency.
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Extract from Commons
debate on Intergenerational Fairness
(Weston-super-Mare)
(Con):...That is the new concept, and it is
extremely powerful and important for us. Let us suppose we start
to view things through that lens and start to apply the same
kinds of fiscal and financial discipline that an independent
pension fund would apply to its liabilities. Let us suppose we
try to value the financial liabilities inherent and embedded in
the state pension and the state benefits system, just as the
trustees of the Rolls-Royce pension scheme or any
other private or occupational pension scheme would. What happens
if we then apply those actuarial calculations to the
liabilities—to the cheques we are all collectively in this place
writing on our own behalf and the costs that we are therefore
imposing on future generations? We find that those actuarial
liabilities look, feel, sound and are economically the same as a
gilt, a Government bond, a long-term liability—and I suggest
strongly that it is only generationally just that we should also
treat them the same. If we apply those calculations, the
Government’s balance sheet—the public’s balance sheet—and the
Government’s overall commitments start to look very difficult
indeed...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
