Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

John Stevenson Excerpts
Thursday 20th November 2014

(9 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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The Secretary of State was asked—
John Stevenson Portrait John Stevenson (Carlisle) (Con)
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1. What steps he is taking to support the manufacturing sector.

Vince Cable Portrait The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable)
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Our industrial strategy sets the long-term direction needed to give manufacturers confidence to invest and compete internationally. We are encouraging technology commercialisation, exports, investment, improving skills, and building UK supply chains. I am sure my hon. Friend will join me in congratulating Cumbria local enterprise partnership, which has been awarded £5 million under regional growth fund round 3 to support specialist manufacturers.

John Stevenson Portrait John Stevenson
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A flourishing sawmill on the edge of Carlisle employs 120 people. Those in the timber industry are concerned that they are not included in the proposed relief scheme for the indirect cost of renewables, despite being accepted as an energy-intensive industry under the climate change agreement. That could give a competitive advantage to imported timber. Will the Minister look at the industry’s case and report back to me?

Vince Cable Portrait Vince Cable
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I will certainly look at that—indeed, we already are. The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the more general issue of energy-intensive industries, and we have sought to achieve relief through compensation under the European Union emissions trading system and the carbon price floor. We have recently consulted on how to extend that relief in respect of renewable obligations and the feed-in tariff. That consultation has just ended and will incorporate industries depending on their energy intensity and trading capacity. We will announce the results shortly.