Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Mak Excerpts
Thursday 1st November 2018

(6 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Leo Docherty Portrait Leo Docherty (Aldershot) (Con)
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9. What recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the digital sector to the UK economy.

Alan Mak Portrait Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)
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11. What recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the digital sector to the UK economy.

Margot James Portrait The Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries (Margot James)
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The UK’s digital sector is a global powerhouse, and the most recent official statistics show that the sector has contributed over £116 billion to the UK economy and is growing faster than the average for the rest of the economy by two and a half times. From 2015 to 2016, the digital sector’s contribution increased by 5.8%.

Margot James Portrait Margot James
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I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. Indeed, I visited UKCloud a few months ago and was extremely impressed by not just its fast growth but its innovation. The UK cloud sector is a strongly performing part of the overall digital sector. Earlier this year I spoke at the UK cloud awards and was very impressed by the success, innovation and growth potential of the cloud sector.

Alan Mak Portrait Alan Mak
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Govtech is a growing part of the digital economy and it can help to boost public sector productivity. What steps can the Department take to help entrepreneurs and start-ups in this important tech sector?