Tata Group Gigafactory Investment

Debate between Nusrat Ghani and Louie French

Thursday 20th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Ms Ghani]

When the council in my constituency was Conservative-led, it had a substantial charging point infrastructure roll-out plan, which it had secured itself. When a council is ambitious, it is amazing how much work can be done. We know that sales of electric vehicles are up, as are EV exports and manufacturing, and prices will come down as more come on the market. I am slightly anxious about the sort of incentives the hon. Lady is asking for, if it means just another extra cost to the average taxpayer. We have really good charging infrastructure and fantastic supply chains. As this investment increases confidence in our supply chains, manufacturing will continue to increase and the cars will become even more attractive. My constituents, like hers, want to leave a leaner and greener footprint on the Earth.

[Mr Louie French (Old Bexley and Sidcup) (Con)]

This is fantastic news for the UK economy, with thousands of skilled jobs and investment in the transition to a lower carbon future. Does my hon. Friend agree that, while Labour continues its rather odd tribute act to new Labour and the likes of Lord Prescott, who famously had two Jags, it is the Conservatives who are delivering inward investment in our country and the UK car industry that will deliver much more?

[Ms Ghani]

I have learned that it is not a good use of one’s time to focus on what the Opposition are offering, because they U-turn so quickly; by the time one has closed the book they have just published, they have changed their mind. Let us not fret about that.

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Investment in the automotive sector is on a fantastic trajectory, with not just this commitment but those from Stellantis, Ford, Envision and Nissan. That is because we have a really stellar agenda on how we create and adopt new technology to ensure that advanced manufacturing in the UK competes internationally, as we did with steel, including by helping with high energy costs, which are now coming down. We work hand in glove with the industry. We do not sit around in a Westminster bubble, creating new budgets that are completely uncosted and endorsed by no one in the sector. Yesterday’s and today’s news is fantastic for the automotive sector.