Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Menzies and Greg Clark

Thursday 26th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)]

May I take this opportunity to welcome the recent announcement that Blackpool airport has been designated a joint enterprise zone with the one at Warton? What steps is the Minister taking to encourage businesses to move to enterprise zones such as the one in my constituency in order to stimulate further regional growth?

[The Minister for Universities, Science and Cities (Greg Clark)]

I certainly congratulate my hon. Friend, along with colleagues, on his lobbying for that important expansion of that new enterprise zone. We are seeing across the country that enterprise zones are one of a number of policies that are attracting and driving jobs. Very large numbers of jobs are being created, reversing the pattern under the previous Government.

Local Growth Deals

Debate between Mark Menzies and Greg Clark

Monday 7th July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Greg Clark]

I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his kind words—it might strike a different tone if he took his place on the Front Bench. There will be a cheque for £63 million of the funding for Greater Birmingham and Solihull at the beginning of the next financial year, but all the rest will be committed. I am sure he would be delighted to come to the contract signing ceremony; it will be written down, just in case people do not trust us.

[Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)]

This afternoon, I was with the Secretary of State for Transport in Fylde, where we announced the Lytham St Annes to M55 link road. Will the Minister assure the people of Fylde, who are very excited about this announcement, that this shovel-ready project will indeed get under way in 2015-16, as planned?

[Greg Clark]

It will, indeed.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Menzies and Greg Clark

Monday 30th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)]

T5. Given that the Fylde borough council local plan will not come into force for a couple of years, what assurances can my right hon. Friend give me and my constituents that we will not see a stampede of planning applications in the meantime?

[Greg Clark]

I certainly encourage my hon. Friend’s council to make all speed in producing its plan, as it is desirable that there should be a plan in place. However, the transitional arrangements that we will put in place will make sure that councils that are doing the right thing by planning for the future of their area will not be disadvantaged.