Oral Answers to Questions

Chris McDonald Excerpts

Wednesday 15th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Chris McDonald (Stockton North) (Lab)]

12. What progress his Department has made on securing the future of Harland and Wolff in Northern Ireland.

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)]

I welcome the industry-led deal that will see Navantia UK purchase Harland and Wolff’s four shipyards in the UK, including that in Belfast. The Government have worked closely with Navantia UK to secure the future of the yards, the fleet solid support ship programme, and around 1,000 jobs across the UK.

[Chris McDonald]

Does my right hon. Friend share my optimism that now that the future of the Harland and Wolff yard has been secured, the yard will be able to secure future orders?

[Hilary Benn]

I certainly do. That is one of the great benefits of the commercial agreement that has been reached with Navantia on buying Harland and Wolff, and the adjustments made to the contract to ensure that the fleet solid support ships could go ahead. This is a great facility, and it is open for business, including for other orders.

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris McDonald Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd October 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

Again, I will not speculate on the Budget, not least with the Chancellor sat beside me. To reiterate what the Chancellor and the Prime Minister have said, this Budget will recognise that working people of this country and enterprise in this country have been hard-hit by 14 years of the Conservatives. We will rebuild Britain, and we will grow our economy to pay for our public services.

[Chris McDonald (Stockton North) (Lab)]

Q4. Next year marks the 200th anniversary of the Stockton to Darlington railway, but the rail industry in my area is in peril. Hundreds of jobs are at risk at Hitachi Rail as a consequence of a lack of action from the previous Government. Will the Deputy Prime Minister join me and our hon. Friend the Member for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor (Alan Strickland), along with workers, management and trade unions, in ensuring that no stone is left unturned as we fight for the future of the Hitachi rail factory?

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

I welcome my hon. Friend to his place. He has been a champion for workers at Newton Aycliffe from day one. I know he has met the Transport Secretary, and I can assure him that we are in close contact with Hitachi on operations to secure a sustainable future for Newton Aycliffe. We are committed to a long-term industrial strategy for rolling stock, seeking to support British manufacturing and end the volatility of recent years.