Local Growth Deals Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Local Growth Deals

Christopher Chope Excerpts
Monday 7th July 2014

(10 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness Primarolo Portrait Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Dawn Primarolo)
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Order. I wonder whether we could make slightly faster progress, because many Members wish to speak and this statement will run to about a quarter to 6 in order to make room for today’s business. Short questions and short answers would be very helpful.

Christopher Chope Portrait Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con)
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What is in this announcement for Dorset, and will the Minister answer the question asked by the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr Sheerman) about how much money we could get if we abandoned HS2? If we did so, we would have a lot more money for these schemes.

Greg Clark Portrait Greg Clark
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I will not be tempted to go in that direction, because I think that HS2 is very important for further boosting our regional economy. Dorset does very well from the scheme. As my hon. Friend will know, the package of improvements for unlocking transport around Bournemouth airport is very important, and the port of Poole is receiving a lot of investment. There has been particular investment in skills in Dorset to ensure that its growing businesses can attract the people they need to meet the demands of their growing order books.