Oral Answers to Questions

Henry Smith Excerpts

Thursday 27th April 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Tom Pursglove on question 15. [Interruption.] Aah, excellent! I was rather hoping that the hon. Member for Crawley (Henry Smith) would beetle into the Chamber just in time. In fact, I was prolonging the previous exchange in the confident expectation that he would arrive. He has done so, so we will reinstate question 13.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

13. What recent discussions his Department has had with the aerospace industry on the negotiations for the UK leaving the EU.

[Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)]

19. What recent discussions his Department has had with the aerospace industry on the negotiations for the UK leaving the EU.

[The Minister of State, Department for Exiting the European Union (Mr David Jones)]

Engagement with industry is a central element of our plan to build a national consensus around our negotiating position. The Department has been listening and talking to aerospace manufacturers and industry groups across the UK and internationally, including Rolls-Royce, Airbus, ADS and the aerospace growth partnership.

[Henry Smith]

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your forbearance, if nothing else. [Interruption.] And for much more. Does my right hon. Friend the Minister welcome Boeing’s investment in the new hangar maintenance facility at Gatwick airport as proof of the expanding aviation sector, even post Brexit?

[Mr Jones]

Yes, indeed. Boeing has announced 100 new jobs at its facility at Gatwick. Aviation and the aerospace industry are vital parts of our economy, and we have no doubt that they will continue to thrive after we have left the European Union.