UK Automotive and Components Sector
Debate between Lord Spellar and Lord Leong(2Â weeks ago)
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Lord Spellar
To ask His Majesty’s Government, in light of Jaguar Land Rover’s decision to cut 4,000 jobs over the next two years, what steps they are taking to support the UK’s automotive and components sector and its workforce.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (Lord Leong) (Lab)
My Lords, we understand the anxiety that this announcement causes among workers, families and communities in the area where JLR is based. We are determined that Britain will remain a world-leading automotive nation. Our industrial strategy reduces electricity costs, commits ÂŁ4 billion to DRIVE35 to advance manufacturing and research, and allocates ÂŁ2 billion to boost electric vehicle demand. We are strengthening supplies through the DRIVE35 transformation programme and securing better access to markets in the EU and the United States, thereby protecting investment and jobs.
Lord Spellar (Lab)
I thank my noble friend the Minister for that Answer. He obviously recognises the importance of our auto components industry, which underpins our car assembly plants and is also a significant part of our exports and regional economies. He and the House will be aware of the significant impact of the hack at Jaguar Land Rover last year, which led to an overall drop in GDP but also had a much more significant effect on the West Midlands economy. So, with those current problems at JLR, which the Minister has identified, what are the Government doing to support the supply chains and the British car plants, and would not one measure be for public bodies to prioritise buying British vehicles built by British workers?
Lord Leong (Lab)
My Lords, my noble friend rightly reminds us that cyber attacks affect companies of all sizes, and this is a stark reminder that JLR is not only the manufacturer but also the anchor of the supply chain. We are working with JLR, lenders, local partners and suppliers to safeguard viable businesses, improve access to finance and strengthen cyber resilience. On procurement, we will use government purchasing power strategically to ensure that British manufacturers can compete fairly and that social value, resilient supply chains and UK capability are recognised in purchasing decisions.
Multilateral Free Trade
Debate between Lord Spellar and Lord Leong
Lord Leong (Lab)
The noble Lord makes a very interesting point. Tariffs are not good for trade: they will make things more expensive. We have benefited from tariff-free trading relationships with many countries, and consumers have also benefited from cheaper prices, so we must constantly engage with our trading partners to have tariff-free trade.
Lord Spellar (Lab)
Do the Government accept that there must be a level playing field and free trade also has to be fair trade? Given that nearly all other countries’ public sector purchases give priority to their own domestic producers, is it not time that we did the same and supported British firms and British workers?