Business of the House

Barry Sheerman Excerpts

Thursday 25th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Andrea Leadsom]

I am happy to write to the hon. Lady with a response.

[Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)]

Unlike your good self, Mr Speaker, the Leader of the House has never had the advantage of visiting the Textile Centre of Excellence in Huddersfield. It is the centre of training for the whole textile industry. Will she consider an early debate on the crisis in skills and productivity in our country?

[Andrea Leadsom]

The hon. Gentleman will be pleased to note that the productivity rise was greater in the last quarter than it has been since the financial crisis. There is a long way to go. Productivity has lagged since that financial crisis, and it is essential that the Government focus—we are doing so—on everything that we can do to invest in greater productivity. We have the national productivity plan, which is worth £31 billion, to ensure that we improve productivity right across the UK.