Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Davies Excerpts

Tuesday 12th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. No, no. Last time I visited Ochil and South Perthshire, the hon. Gentleman’s constituency, it was a most stimulating experience, but my recollection is that the constituency was a considerable distance from Yorkshire. I call Chris Davies.

[Chris Davies (Brecon and Radnorshire) (Con)]

And Wales is even further, Mr Speaker. [Laughter.]

[Mr Speaker]

Well done.

[Chris Davies (Brecon and Radnorshire) (Con)]

13. What plans he has to support manufacturing in the UK.

[Preet Kaur Gill (Birmingham, Edgbaston) (Lab/Co-op)]

20. What steps he is taking to support manufacturing after the UK leaves the EU.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Richard Harrington)]

Our modern industrial strategy for our whole country will ensure that the UK remains one of the most competitive locations in the world for manufacturing investment. We are investing over £600 million in the high-value manufacturing Catapult, and up to £167 million in our “Made Smarter” industrial digitalisation programme. I hope and believe that this will help UK manufacturers develop, adopt and exploit new technologies to make us really successful in the future.

[Chris Davies]

The British soft drinks industry plays a very important part in the manufacturing sector in our country and should really be applauded for the way in which it has adapted to meet the recent sugar tax. With the Government’s announcement that a bottle return scheme will be introduced in the next few years, will my hon. Friend assure the industry and this House that this scheme will be uniform right across the country?

[Richard Harrington]

Much as I would like to do so, I cannot give my hon. Friend that assurance, because waste and recycling policy is a devolved matter. However, it is our preference that the scheme is UK-wide, and we will really be pushing that with the devolved authorities.