Business of the House

Andrew Ranger Excerpts

Thursday 30th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I wish Bradley good luck with his degree apprenticeship. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that degree apprenticeships offer a real career opportunity for many of our young people, and they are still not as widely known about as they should be through careers advice in schools. He raises a really important point, with which this Government wholeheartedly agree.

[Andrew Ranger (Wrexham) (Lab)]

Wrexham is a thriving hub of business, and the continued investment in the Wrexham and Flintshire investment zone is very welcome indeed. Companies such as Wrexham Lager, Kellogg’s and JCB, among others, are exporting from Wrexham around the globe. However, too many businesses have had to give up on exporting due to the huge increase in costs from red tape introduced under the previous Government. Such things are critical if we are to achieve the growth we want, so will the Leader of the House please consider providing parliamentary time to debate how we can ensure that these businesses get the support they need?

[Lucy Powell]

I am sure my hon. Friend welcomes—in fact, he has done—the much deserved announcement this week of an investment zone for his constituency of Wrexham. He is absolutely right that businesses face far too much red tape, especially because of the botched Brexit deal by the last Government, and this Government are committed to reducing that.