Industrial Strategy

Debate between Chris White and George Kerevan

Thursday 20th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[George Kerevan (East Lothian) (SNP)]

Will the hon. Gentleman way?

[Chris White]

I am sorry; I will not give way again.

Clearly, an industrial strategy needs to establish a framework—from how many children are studying STEM subjects at primary school, right through the industrially strategic pipeline to how many businesses are exporting. Where have targets been met, and where is further intervention required? As the strategy becomes more embedded, those things will not come as shocks, but more as minor adjustments to the levers of policy. We used to say quite a lot about the long-term economic plan. We need an economic plan, and underneath any economic plan, we need a strong and robust industrial strategy.