Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Bellingham and Matt Hancock

Thursday 20th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Matthew Hancock]

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend about the goal of making sure that exports are done not only by big multinationals but by small businesses wherever they can. Some 89% of UKTI customers are small and medium-sized enterprises and nearly one in five is new to exporting or has been exporting for less than a year. I think we should do all we can to encourage this trend.

[Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con)]

7. When he next plans to meet the Construction Industry Training Board to discuss apprenticeships.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Bellingham and Matt Hancock

Thursday 4th September 2014 Commons Chamber

[Matthew Hancock]

There are opportunities for solar, where appropriately sited, in many different places on roofs and on land. In fact, land can be combined with agricultural use and solar. One other advantage of solar is that it can effectively be masked from being seen from elsewhere because it is low-rise rather than high-rise. This has to be done sensitively. There is no point in destroying our green and pleasant land in order to save the global environment. We have to tackle security of supply and climate change in a way that also protects the local environment.

[Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con)]

4. What plans he has to change the subsidy regime for onshore wind farms; and if he will make a statement.

[The Minister for Business and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock)]

In future, instead of a fixed level of subsidy, onshore wind will have to bid for support through our new contracts for difference, which will be allocated competitively so that only the best-value projects are supported. The first allocation rounds open in October.

[Mr Bellingham]

Is the Minister aware that Norfolk hosts a large number of offshore wind arrays that command widespread public support, in stark contrast to most—not all—onshore wind farms, which can be very unpopular when they destroy beautiful landscapes? Further to his earlier reply, can he confirm that Norfolk will not have any more onshore wind farms imposed on it in the face of local opposition?

[Matthew Hancock]

As I said, we have given more local control in the planning system, as well as changing the subsidy regime so that onshore wind would have to be competitive, for instance, against solar. As the costs of solar fall, it is increasingly able to compete for that subsidy. This is about getting the best possible value for money out of the subsidy but also ensuring that local people have a say in the planning system. I know some of the sites that my hon. Friend is talking about—indeed, I visited, or rather went past, one of the developments last month—so I know of the local concern in his constituency. We have to make sure that in future local people have more of a say, and we are doing that.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Bellingham and Matt Hancock

Thursday 26th June 2014 Commons Chamber

[Matthew Hancock]

It is interesting to hear another Labour proposal that is uncosted and unfunded. We have instead taken action to reduce by £1,000 the business rates on retail premises. We are clear that business rates need reform, and that reform will happen, but what we need are sensible contributions to the debate, given the enormous hole in the public finances that we are still having to fill.

[Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con)]

9. What plans he has to encourage foreign direct investment.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Bellingham and Matt Hancock

Thursday 5th December 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con)]

2. If he will meet representatives of the small business sector to discuss the removal of unnecessary regulation.

[The Minister for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock)]

I am very happy to meet small business representatives. We actively listen to feedback on regulation, including through the red tape challenge, but we do not just meet representatives—we act. For instance, we are freeing about 1 million self-employed people from health and safety law where their work poses no harm to others.

[Mr Bellingham]

I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Is he aware that King’s Lynn and west Norfolk has an incredibly diverse economy? Experts tell me that since 2010, 1,000 new small businesses have been set up. Will he tell the House that he is as determined as ever to go on championing the cause of removing unnecessary burdens on business, and does he agree that small businesses will be the major exporters of the future? What will he be doing on Saturday to champion wealth creation and enterprise?

[Matthew Hancock]

Like my hon. Friend and many Members across the House, I will be celebrating small business Saturday this weekend. We are constantly vigilant and listening to small businesses to make sure that their task is made easier and the burdens we place on them made smaller.