Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Hanson of Flint Excerpts
Thursday 11th September 2014

(10 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Hanson of Flint Portrait Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)
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Does the Secretary of State accept that companies such as Airbus, which is close to my constituency and which employs thousands of people, are successful and competitive because they work with German, French and Spanish colleagues to produce world-class planes? Does he agree that it is therefore essential that we remain part of a Europe-wide Union to ensure that we remain competitive?

Vince Cable Portrait Vince Cable
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The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. The Airbus factory in north Wales is an extraordinarily impressive part of British manufacturing. Most of us who have been there have been overwhelmed by the quality of its work. He is right that it is a European company and that it could not operate on any other basis than as a European network. Another key factor in its success has been the industrial strategy and the support that it receives through the aerospace growth partnership.