Asked by Lord Fox To ask Her Majesty’s Government what
conclusions they have drawn from their consultation on the
introduction of a new industrial strategy. The Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy (Lord Prior of Brampton) (Con) My Lords,
the responses to the consultation are broadly...Request free trial
Asked by
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To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conclusions they have
drawn from their consultation on the introduction of a new
industrial strategy.
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Lord Prior of
Brampton) (Con)
My Lords, the responses to the consultation are broadly
supportive of the proposals in the Green Paper and endorse
the challenge of developing an ambitious and enduring
industrial strategy that sets a clear long-term vision and
works for all parts of the country. The responses will
inform the development of the White Paper to be published
later this year.
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(LD)
I thank the noble Lord for his response and for the fact
that the consultation is being heeded. I understand that
sector discussions are under way and that the metaphor has
moved from referring to 10 pillars down to four. Quite
apart from that giving the department more time to spend on
Brexit chaos, what is the rationale behind this change and
which of the pillars have been jettisoned?
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I think that the noble Lord is confusing two things. This
is a question about how the White Paper is to be
structured. It is clear from the feedback received during
the consultation period that technical skills is probably
the most important area we need to focus on, along with
universities and science and innovation, infrastructure,
and what we all call “place”. We cannot have an industrial
strategy that does not reach out to other parts of the
country beyond London.
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(Lab)
My Lords, I am sure that the Minister will agree that a key
plank of any industrial strategy is the shipbuilding
strategy which we were promised in the spring of this year.
It is now past the summer solstice and by the time we sit
again the September equinox will have come and gone, so
which spring are the Government talking about, bearing in
mind that the recent order for three frigates does not
really solve the terrible problem of having too few escorts
for our great nation? It is a national disgrace. So when
will the shipbuilding strategy actually be on the streets?
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I thank the noble Lord. The shipbuilding strategy will be an
important part of our overall industrial strategy, and of
course it is not just about naval shipbuilding, it is about
civil shipbuilding as well.
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(CB)
My Lords, when do the Government intend to publish the life
sciences industrial strategy? When it is published, will it
be a definitive document with timelines over the next two,
four, six and 10 years, or will it just be a wish list?
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A strategy for life sciences is a critical part of our
industrial strategy. It will be published imminently and
certainly well before the industrial strategy is published in
the autumn. It will not only set out a strategy for one year
but look forward for at least 10 years.
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of Winscombe
(Con)
My Lords, does the Minister agree with me that it is
competition that brings out the best not just in politicians
but in businesses, whether they are small, medium or large?
Can my noble friend assure us that the industrial strategy
will not ditch this but instead strengthen our competition
authorities?
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I agree with my noble friend that competition is essential to
drive improvement and progress. It is also important that
government, industry and academia/universities work together
very closely.
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(Lab)
My Lords, does the Minister recall that at the time of the
publication of the Green Paper on industrial strategy there
was considerable disappointment, which was entirely
justified, at the scant mention of steel—indeed, it appeared
once, on page 96? Can he give us an undertaking now that in
the forthcoming White Paper there will be a cogent and
effective strategy for steel to uphold the interests and
competitiveness of this crucial foundation industry?
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Steel is clearly a very important part of any industrial
strategy, but I should make it absolutely clear to the noble
Lord that this strategy is about the future and not just
about incumbents. While there is an important future for
steel, there is also the whole new world of digital
technologies, which are also very important.
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of Nympsfield
(CB)
My Lords, when your Lordships’ House first debated the Green
Paper on industrial strategy, I asked the Minister what were
its magic ingredients that had eluded the framers of the
previous nine industrial strategies since the Second World
War. I wonder whether the consultation has shed any light so
that he can give me a considered answer beyond the one that
he gave me that day.
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I fear that I may be giving the noble Lord almost the same
answer, but there are two critical elements of the industrial
strategy. One is technical skills, an area where, if we are
honest, we admit that we have been struggling since the
1950s, and the second is to build on the extraordinary
comparative advantage that we have in our universities.
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(Lab)
My Lords, the noble Lord will be aware of the independent
Industrial Strategy Commission, which reported recently. It
said that a key component of a successful and sustainable
industrial strategy would be enhancing a state’s purchasing
and regulating power. Does the Minister agree? Will he give
some examples of where that might happen, including in such
areas as diversity and apprenticeship training, which have
been so lacking in recent years?
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There is no doubt that government procurement is critical;
for example, in the construction industry. For example,
Crossrail has built into a number of its contracts
requirements for apprenticeship training and for using new
technologies and small businesses. There is no doubt that
procurement can be extremely important.
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(LD)
My Lords, I congratulate the Government on their commitment
in the Green Paper to an early deal for the creative
industries sector, but how are they planning to support
skills in that sector, which are so important, particularly
given the prospect of Brexit, when they are not covered by
the innovation and research budget? Is the DfE involved in
discussion and happy to allow creative companies flexibility
in their use of the apprenticeship levy?
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The noble Baroness probably knows that Sir Peter Bazalgette
will produce a paper for us on the creative industries. I am
sure that he will make a number of recommendations about how
we develop skills to support the creative industries. We
should hear from him within a couple of months.
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(Con)
My Lords, does my noble friend agree that the industrial
strategy should have a rural slant to it? Will he use his
good offices to ensure that rural areas will have access to
technologies such as broadband and mobile phone coverage,
which is woeful at present?
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My noble friend will be pleased to know that there is a
commitment in our strategy to spend £740 million on improving
our broadband and ensuring that 5G is made much more
available around the country.
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