Oral Answers to Questions

Jonathan Davies Excerpts

Tuesday 21st January 2025 Commons Chamber

[David Williams (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Lab)]

15. What steps she has taken to help increase economic growth in Stoke-on-Trent.

[Jonathan Davies (Mid Derbyshire) (Lab)]

16. What steps she has taken to help increase economic growth in Derbyshire.

[Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab)]

21. What steps she has taken to help increase economic growth in the north-east.

--- Later in debate ---

[Rachel Reeves]

It is great to see two strong advocates for Stoke in the Chamber today. A number of local authorities and, indeed, Labour mayors have raised with me bus procurement and the importance of buses for the local economy. I look forward to working with them, particularly David Skaith in York and North Yorkshire and Steve Rotheram in Liverpool, to boost bus services in communities, and particularly rural communities, to support jobs in the UK. At the Budget, I allocated more than £1 billion for local bus services, and that includes £712 million for local authorities to support and improve bus services in the next financial year.

[Jonathan Davies]

Museums make an important contribution to our cultural life, but also to our economy. The Arts Council and the Museums Association found that net expenditure on museums and galleries has decreased by almost 40% in real terms since 2009. I welcome the Chancellor’s recognition that the creative industries are key to delivering growth and that national museums were given support in the recent Budget, but what steps can the Government take to support regional civic museums, such as Derby museum, which did not benefit from that funding?

[Rachel Reeves]

The Culture Secretary was pleased that the creative industries were one of the sectors included in our industrial strategy. She hosted an event with members of the creative industries taskforce in Newcastle just last week to emphasise the importance of having good cultural offers and art and museums in local communities. I am happy to sort out a meeting for my hon. Friend with the relevant Minister to discuss access to the arts and culture in Mid Derbyshire.