Oral Answers to Questions

Ian Levy Excerpts

Tuesday 9th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Steve Barclay]

With respect, the hon. Lady is simply wrong on the facts with her question. Under the Agenda for Change three-year award, the average increase this year was 2.5%, not the figure she alluded to. But of course, the Government have asked the pay review body to consider a number of factors and, as is normal practice, the Department of Health and Social Care has set out what is affordable within its budgets.

[Ian Levy (Blyth Valley) (Con)]

The Government recently confirmed the first eight sites to be awarded freeport status. That will provide great opportunities for prosperity in those areas. In my home constituency of Blyth Valley we have the only deep-water port in Northumberland, with investments in offshore wind, such as at the Catapult, as well as Britishvolt with the only gigaplant in the UK. What assessment has my hon. Friend made of granting a second round of bidding for areas such as Blyth that were not successful on this occasion?

[Kemi Badenoch]

Freeports will be national hubs for international trade, innovation and commerce and they will regenerate communities across the UK. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government led a fair, open and transparent selection process to determine successful freeport locations in England. Unfortunately, as with any competitive process, there will always be those that are unsuccessful, and I am afraid there are no plans to designate other freeports in England. Freeports are part of a wider package of UK Government support, which invests in skills, infrastructure and innovation at local, regional and national levels. As part of that package, Blyth was awarded £11 million through the future high streets fund in December and is also one of 101 towns eligible for up to £25 million funding from the towns fund.