Oral Answers to Questions

Henry Smith Excerpts

Tuesday 29th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

7. What steps he is taking to support innovation in the manufacturing sector.

[The Minister of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (George Freeman)]

Despite the Opposition’s constant attempts to talk down UK manufacturing, the truth is that we are ninth in the world and fourth in Europe, and that our advanced manufacturing sector contributes £205 billion gross value added to the UK economy. That is why we continue to support it in sectors such as aerospace, automotive and life sciences through £850 million to the high-value manufacturing catapult and nearly £200 million through our Made Smarter programme.

[Henry Smith]

Recently, Rolls-Royce, in conjunction with Gatwick-based easyJet, carried out a successful green hydrogen jet engine trial. Will my hon. Friend assure me that the Government will continue to invest in sustainable aviation innovation?

[George Freeman]

I thank my hon. Friend, the chair of the all-party group for the future of aviation, and I take this opportunity to invite the whole House to celebrate the world-first achieved by Rolls-Royce and easyJet: the first run of a green hydrogen-powered auto engine. I am happy to reconfirm our commitment to aerospace technology. That is why we have put £685 million into the Aerospace Technology Institute programme and £125 million through the industrial strategy challenge fund into the UK Research and Innovation future flight challenge. The UK is leading in clean energy for the aviation sector and jet zero.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

I call Henry Smith.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

T10. Sorry—I did not know I had a topical question, Mr Speaker. Can I get assurances from the Government that airports such as Gatwick will be supported as they recover strongly from the covid-19 pandemic?

[Grant Shapps]

My hon. Friend will be reassured to know that I did know that he would have a topical question, and the answer to it is yes.