Oral Answers to Questions

Jason McCartney Excerpts

Tuesday 25th May 2021 Commons Chamber

[Kwasi Kwarteng]

The hon. Gentleman makes a pointed and unfair observation at the end of his remarks, which I think is beneath his dignity. I know that he is referring to “Britannia Unchained”, a classic work published 10 years ago, but 10 years is a very long time and I do not want to revisit those battles. I will say what I have said to him before: this is an issue for Ofgem and we are discussing how to seek to make progress on that important subject.

[Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to support the Government’s levelling-up agenda.

[Tom Hunt (Ipswich) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to support the Government’s levelling-up agenda.

[The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Kwasi Kwarteng)]

We have made a commitment to level up all areas of the country. The plan for growth is a critical part of that, and we will go further with the publication of a levelling-up White Paper, led ably by my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Neil O’Brien), later this year.

[Jason McCartney]

I fully welcome the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution as we build back greener. Green eco-businesses in my Colne Valley constituency are ready to play their part, so can I please suggest to the Secretary of State that if the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy or any other Government Department is looking to relocate to the north, towns such as Slaithwaite and Marsden, with their mills and their direct rail links to the likes of Manchester and Leeds on the trans-Pennine line, would be ideal locations?