Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Vaizey of Didcot Excerpts

Tuesday 11th June 2019 Commons Chamber

[Greg Clark]

I work closely with the Institute of Directors and other business organisations to make sure that information is available to their members and others. We will continue to do that over the months ahead, but it remains my ambition that we should have a deal that allows us to continue the successful trade that the hon. Lady mentions.

[Mr Edward Vaizey (Wantage) (Con)]

Hear, hear! Well said.

[Mr Speaker]

Contain yourself, man. I am always grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for the provision of the voice of Wantage.

--- Later in debate ---

[Kelly Tolhurst]

The hon. Lady raises an important point about the viability of some of the retail outlets that are operating on our high streets. She is absolutely right that it is concerning when we are looking at any closures of retail names on our high streets. We stand ready to do what we can, along with my colleagues in MHCLG, if closures occur. As I have already outlined, we are working with the Retail Sector Council. We are committed to making sure that we work with the retail sector and high streets to make sure that we can truly grow our high streets and protect retail for the future.

[Mr Edward Vaizey (Wantage) (Con)]

A small amount of funding would unlock the growth of Harwell campus in my constituency via the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. Will the Secretary of State, who knows Harwell campus well, meet me and the NDA there to discuss how we can get on and build Greg Clark Park and Theresa May Way, and drive this successful science campus to help growth post Brexit?

[Greg Clark]

I have no aspirations to such recognition, but I am very happy to meet my right hon. Friend to discuss the further opportunities for what is one of the foremost innovation campuses in the whole world.