Oral Answers to Questions

Angela Smith Excerpts
Tuesday 15th December 2015

(8 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. Sing, but no Member of this House can match David Bowie—highly relevant as far as ground control is concerned.

Angela Smith Portrait Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab)
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Rolls-Royce is of strategic importance to our aerospace industry, not just in Derby but in Sheffield and Bristol. What are the Government prepared to do to safeguard that capacity, which is increasingly in the news at the moment, in order to ensure that we not just invest in but safeguard the future of the industry so that the UK stays at the forefront of aerospace manufacturing globally?

Anna Soubry Portrait Anna Soubry
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We should of course mention the importance of Rolls-Royce to a great city like Derby; I say that, obviously, as a Nottinghamshire MP. In all seriousness, we are monitoring the situation carefully. We recognise the huge importance of the role that Rolls-Royce plays in our economy. It is really important that we do not talk things down. [Interruption.] Forgive me, but there is too often a tendency among Labour Members, not necessarily the hon. Lady, to talk things down. It is really important that we do not do that and that we continue to support Rolls-Royce.