Oral Answers to Questions

John Howell Excerpts

Wednesday 11th July 2018 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[John Howell (Henley) (Con)]

1. What steps the Government are taking to ensure that Scotland benefits fully from the industrial strategy.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Stuart Andrew)]

The industrial strategy is a strategy for the whole UK and will bring significant opportunities for Scotland. We are working with businesses, universities and business groups across Scotland to seize those opportunities. In line with devolution, the Scottish Government, of course, hold many of the levers to boost and support the growth that we hope the strategy will bring.

[John Howell]

Earlier this year, the Secretary of State for International Trade launched a drive to attract more than £2 billion of investment into Scottish companies as part of the modern industrial strategy. Does my hon. Friend welcome the Government’s efforts to boost exports and to ensure that the benefits of free trade are spread right across the UK?

[Stuart Andrew]

I agree with my hon. Friend. Driving investment is one of the key ways we will deliver the industrial strategy, which will bring the benefits we want to see for Scotland. This pro-investment approach will see a truly global Britain hopefully becoming a leading place for people to invest.