Manufacturing: Economic Policy

Lord Sheldon Excerpts

Wednesday 4th May 2011 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Lord Sheldon]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received from manufacturers on their economic policy.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox)]

My Lords, the Government receive representations from manufacturers and representative bodies such as the manufacturers’ organisation, the EEF, which contribute to the debate on a wide range of topics, including the Government’s economic policy. EEF recently stated that the Government’s growth review has now started to deliver tangible progress in removing barriers to growth, investment and job creation in the United Kingdom.

[Lord Sheldon]

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that Answer. The United Kingdom, of course, is now the world’s sixth largest manufacturer by output. Although some emerging economies are able to produce goods cheaper than in our country, we still have a number of advantages in design, research, pharmaceuticals and technology. However, there is still a problem between the level of economic activity in high employment regions and areas of high unemployment. What action do the Government propose to limit these variations?